HC Deb 14 February 1949 vol 461 c113W
62. Mr. Gallacher

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many people are undergoing institutional training in agriculture at the present time under the Government schemes; and how many of these are aliens.

Mr. T. Williams

Two thousand, five hundred and eighty-two students with awards under the Further Education and Training Scheme are now taking university or college courses in agriculture, horticulture or veterinary science. Of these, 19 are aliens. There are also 775 persons undergoing training in agriculture or horticulture at farm institutes or training centres under the Vocational Training Scheme, but as the application forms are kept locally I could not say how many of this number may be aliens without considerable inquiry, which could not seem justified.

67. Mr. P. Thorneycroft

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many pupils completed the 1947–48 training course at agricultural institutes, what records are kept as to their subsequent employment; and how many are engaged in the work of agricultural production.

Mr. T. Williams

About 790 students completed one-year courses at local education authority farm institutes during the year. No records are kept by my Department of the subsequent careers of those attending these courses and to obtain the information from the individual authorities would involve a disproportionate expenditure of time and effort. I have no reason to think, however, that any of the students subsequently failed to obtain suitable work in agriculture.