§ 21. Mr. Francis Noel-Bakerasked the Minister of Labour if he will establish a Government training centre to retrain Londoners for new types of employment in Swindon and other expanding towns with modern industry and a shortage of certain categories of skilled men.
§ Mr. Hattersley:Londoners who want and are suitable for skilled employment in Swindon and other expanding towns can be trained at the existing Government Training Centres in and around London. There are seven such Centres with nearly 2,000 training places, and work is to start next year on an eighth, 268W with 250 places. By early 1970 it will be possible to train nearly 5,000 men a year at those eight Centres.
§ 50. Mr. H. Boardmanasked the Minister of Labour how many places at his Department's training centres will be available to applicants amongst the 2,000 men faced with redundancy at Mosley Common Colliery, due to close in February next.
§ Mr. Hattersley:I am informed that, on present estimates, between 100 and 300 of the men now employed at this colliery may become redundant when it closes in February next. The Government training centres at Hindley and Manchester are within daily travelling distance of the Mosley Common Colliery, and have a total of 293 training places. These should meet the needs of redundant miners from Mosley Common who want and are suitable for this type of training.
§ 63. Mr. R. W. Elliottasked the Minister of Labour if he is satisfied that Government training centres in the northeast of England now have a wide enough range of courses to satisfy the demand in the regions for new skills; and if he will regularly review these courses.
§ Mr. Hattersley:There are courses in 23 trades at the centres in the Northern Region. The range is frequently widened, and existing courses are modernised as necessary. Regular reviews are undertaken to ensure that the trades taught are in line with the demand for new skills in the Region.
§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Minister of Labour how many places in Government training centres are at present for service industry trades, as classified in the Official Classification.
§ Mr. Hattersley:The trades taught at Government training centres cannot be identified precisely with particular industries; trainees in servicing trades may subsequently be employed in manufacturing industry. There are, however, 1,560 places for trainees who would most frequently be placed in industries covered 269W by the general headings "Distributive Trades and" Miscellaneous Services "in the Standard Industrial Classification.
§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to reduce the waiting list for entry to Government training centres in Scotland.
§ Mr. Hattersley:I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to his Question on 11th December.—[Vol. 756, c. 19.]
Mr. Wileyasked the Minister of Labour what courses for industrial retraining are provided at Government training centres in the Northern Region.
§ Mr. Hattersley:Following is the information:
- Bricklaying—6 classes,
- Carpentry—6,
- Contractors' plant maintenance—3,
- Electrical installation and maintenance—2,
- Heating and ventilating fitting—2,
- Street masonry and paving—1,
- Capstan setting/operating—8,
- Centre Lathe turning—6,
- Milling setting/operating—6,
- Jig and tool fitting—3,
- Precision grinding—3,
- General fitting—2,
- Instrument fitting and machining—,
- Sheet metal work—2,
- Electric arc welding—2,
- Draughtsmanship—1,
- Motor repairing—5,
- Instrument maintenance—2,
- Radio and television servicing—2,
- Agricultural machinery repairing—1,
- Woodcutting machining—1,
- Motor body repairing—1,
- Men's hairdressing—1.