§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister of State for Defence how many vacant places there were on the technician training scheme at Rosyth Dockyard in 1970–71.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister of State for Defence how many applications there were from boys in 1970–71 for acceptance to the technician training scheme at Rosyth Dockyard.
§ Mr. Kirk74 candidates attended for interview of whom 12 were found not to have the necessary academic qualifications.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister of State for Defence for what reasons there are no instructors on the interview panels which determine which boys shall be accepted for the technician training scheme at Rosyth Dockyard.
§ Mr. KirkThe purpose of the Technician Apprentice Interview Board is to assess the personal qualities of academically-qualified candidates and their potential suitability for management posts. It is, therefore, necessary that the members of the Board should be those who can draw upon wide management and professional experience and it is because of this that the task is entrusted to the judgment of senior officers drawn from the Dockyard organisation and the Civil Service Commission.
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§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many dockyard foremen are currently in the training centre at Rosyth Dockyard; what length of time they have been there; and if he will make a statement on their qualifications for being in charge of apprentice training.
§ Mr. KirkThere are currently four foremen (PTO II) employed in the Apprentice Training Centre, H.M. Dockyard, Rosyth. Two of these posts are recent additions to complement, following a restructuring of the apprentice training organisation. The periods for which the present officers have been serving at Rosyth are 13 months, five months, two months and two months.
Posts in apprentice training at foreman level are filled in general by officers with a minimum academic qualification of O.N.C. or equivalent, with wide experience of dockyard trade practices and organisation, and requisite personal qualities to be in charge of young people.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will give a table of figures showing how many foremen, involved in apprentice training at Rosyth Dockyard, possess a Higher National Certificate.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister of State for Defence what consideration was given as to how many of the 1,100 boys, candidates for the 120 craft apprenticeship places at Rosyth Dockyard, could be appropriately channelled into the technician scheme.
§ Mr. KirkIt is for qualified candidates themselves to choose whether to apply for Technician Apprenticeships. Craft apprentices who do well in their first year's training are eligible for consideration for transfer to technician apprenticeships. At Rosyth, the 489 candidates who sat the entry test for the 88 craft apprenticeships available in 1971 were made aware of the opportunities open to them.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister of State for Defence what system of interview 279W exists at Rosyth Dockyard for candidates for places in craft apprenticeship.
§ Mr. KirkEntry as a craft apprentice at Rosyth depends upon success in the written entry test or on the possession of exempting qualifications. There is no interview.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister of State for Defence what guidance is given to boys at Rosyth Dockyard in the matter of choosing a trade.
§ Mr. KirkBefore the entry competition is held, visits to the Dockyard by school parties are encouraged and Dockyard training officers also visit the schools. The work of the trades employed in the Dockyard is explained and discussed during these visits.
Candidates successful in the entry test are then sent a description of the various trades. When they subsequently attend the Dockyard for trade selection, they are shown examples of the work of the trades and training staff answer questions and offer advice.