HC Deb 19 December 1966 vol 738 c234W
Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he takes to secure day release for educational training in cases where such day release has been denied by employers; in how many cases those steps have had to be taken with special reference to Scotland, and where.

Mr. Ross

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour will normally approve the proposals of industrial training hoards only where it is a condition of grant given to employers that their trainees attend day-release classes. We are satisfied that with these arrangements, the practice of day-release should rapidly extend and we do not contemplate at this stage the introduction of compulsory day-release. I have no power to take action in an individual case where a firm refuses to grant day-release to its employees.