HC Deb 04 December 1967 vol 755 cc213-4W
69. Mr. Drayson

asked the Minister of Labour if he will provide driving instruction at Government training centres.

Mr. Hattersley

Driving instruction is already available to trainees in some trades at Government Training Centres. I am prepared to consider extending it to other trades where it will help trainees to obtain employment at the end of their courses.

71. Mr. Anderson

asked the Minister of Labour what consideration he has given to the siting of a Government training centre in North Monmouthshire, a county where no such centre exists at present.

72. Mr. Clifford Williams

asked the Minister of Labour if he will establish a Government training centre in North Monmouthshire and a second training centre in Mid-Western Monmouthshire to serve the mining townships.

Mr. Hattersley

The need for further Government training centres is being kept under review, and I can assure my hon. Friends that the claims of Monmouthshire will be taken fully into account.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

asked the Minister of Labour what is the average time spent by a trainee in Government training centres in Scotland.

Mr. Hattersley

About six months.

Mr. Willey

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the urgent need for such provision, he will expedite his plans to provide two Government training centres in the North-East.

Mr. Hattersley

The two new centres, one at Darlington and one near Durham, will be provided as quickly as is practicable. At this stage I cannot improve on the target given to the right hon. Member in the reply to his Question on 13th November. However, the programme for the North-East also includes extensions of the existing centres at Billingham and Killingworth. These will be completed during 1968 and will increase the potential annual output of trained men from these centres by over 250.—[Vol. 754, c. 7.]

Mr. Willey

asked the Minister of Labour why there are 76 fewer persons attending courses in Government training centres in the Northern Region than there were attending 12 months ago; and how many places are at present unfilled.

Mr. Hattersley

There was a temporary reduction of the numbers in training in Northern Region in September and October, but by 13th November the numbers had risen to 663, the highest figure yet for the Region. With the recent opening of the Killingworth Centre we now have about 200 unfilled places, and I look forward to a further substantial rise in the numbers under training in the near future.