§ Mrs. Ewingasked the Minister of Labour what is the average waiting time for industrial retraining at Government training centres for Scottish workers.
§ Mr. HattersleyAverages are misleading, as the waiting time varies considerably from trade to trade and from centre 353W to centre. The present average waiting time for Scottish centres is about four months in engineering trades, six months in construction trades and seven months in other trades.
These periods will be progressively reduced as more training places are provided.
§ Commander Purseyasked the Minister of Labour if he will state the trades for which training is available at the Government training centre, Hull, the number of places, the number of persons being trained and number of vacancies for each trade, respectively.
§ Mr. HattersleyOn 8th January, 1968, the position was as follows:
Trade Places available Numbers being trained Vacancies Bricklaying 16 16 — Carpentry and Joinery 16 13 3 Plumbing 16 16 — Capstan Setting/Operating 10 8 2 Instrument Fitting and Machining 12 12 — Milling Setting/Operating 10 10 — Sheet Metal Working 16 13 3 Motor Vehicle Repairing and Maintenance 12 12 — Storekeeping 1 1 — 109 101 8
§ Commander Purseyasked the Minister of Labour what vacancies exist for unemployed men in Hull to be trained in the Government training centre at Leeds, or elsewhere; and in what trades there are vacancies.
§ Mr. HattersleyMen who want and are suitable for the accelerated training given at Government Training Centres, whether employed or unemployed, may obtain it at any Centre at which the trade of their choice is being taught. Lodgings can be provided for men undergoing training beyond daily travelling distance of their homes. There are now 38 Centres with over 8,000 training places; by early 1970 there will be 48 Centres with 12,200 training places. Vacancies are filled from waiting lists of accepted applicants, and waiting times vary from trade to trade and between one Centre and another.