HC Deb 16 December 1948 vol 459 cc185-6W
Mr. Mainwaring

asked the Minister of Labour why, in view of the lack of skilled building workers available for essential housing and other building programmes, his Department suspended the training scheme; and if he will consider now absorbing some of the unemployed for this purpose.

Mr. Isaacs

Training of able-bodied men for the building industry generally was suspended in August, 1947, because the capital investment programme for 1948 did not justify continuing special measures to add to the building labour force. I am at present considering, with representatives of both sides of the industry, whether the shortages in certain areas of certain types of skilled craftsmen can best be met by resuming, to a limited extent, the training of such men.