§ Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture how many Service men have taken advantage of the training schemes in agriculture and horticulture; and if there is a waiting list of men desiring to take these courses.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsThe hon. Member is presumably referring to the Vocational Training Scheme for agriculture and horticulture. In the 32 months during which the scheme has been running, 8,96o men and women have been placed in farm training; 2,372 have completed their training satisfactorily, 3,149 are still training, and 3,439 terminated their training before the end of the 12 months' course. Of these 3,439, more than one-third are known to have remained on the land and many others were obliged to discontinue for reasons of health. Of those who completed their farm training satisfactorily, 615 have been given a further course of institutional training; 9W and in addition 989 men and women (including members of the Women's Land Army) have been given institutional training without being required to take a preliminary year of farm training.
There were on 9th February, 294 applicants awaiting interview to determine whether they were suitable for farm training, and 334 who had been found suitable but were awaiting places on approved holdings. Everything possible is done to shorten these waiting periods as much as possible, but lack of suitable accommodation and reluctance on the part of farmers to accept trainees at certain seasons of the year occasion difficulty, while many applicants themselves prefer to delay the start of their training for a short period. On 9th February there was also 5o people awaiting the next series of institutional courses which, as they are aware, will begin next October. They have been advised to seek agricultural employment in the intervening months.