§ Mr. Urwinasked the Minister of Labour if he will estimate the number of craftsmen in the stone industry in each of the years from 1960 to 1965 and the number of apprentices recruited in each year; and to what extent the declining demand for natural stone has had an effect on recruitment of apprentices.
§ Mr. ThorntonI regret that there is no information available on which an estimate of the number of craftsmen could be based. The numbers of boys taking apprenticeships in Stone and Slate Quarrying and Mining for the years 1960–65 were as follows:
1960 52 1961 56 1962 83 1963 75 1964 69 1965 76 As separate figures for the stone and slate industries are not kept, I am unable to say to what extent the declining demand for natural stone has affected the 324W recruitment of apprentices, but it would not appear to have had a very adverse effect.