§ Mr. Mainwaringasked the Minister of Works whether the agreed rate of intake of apprentices to the crafts within the building industry is adequate to maintain the present scale of operations and permit future expansion of the industry to meet the demands likely to be made upon it.
§ Mr. KeyThe rate of intake of apprentices to the building industry crafts suggested by the Building Apprenticeship and Training Council—22,000 per year—would, if achieved, be adequate to attain the objective referred to by my hon. Friend. Up to 1947 the numbers coming into the industry were reasonably near that total, but available information indicates that since that date there has been a decline. The rate of recruitment is receiving the attention of the Building Apprenticeship and Training Council, and of the Government Departments concerned. Every effort is being made to stimulate the entry of apprentices to the industry.