§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will investigate why Mr. Edward Stewart of Bedford, who was retrained at the Letchworth skillcentre and completed his nine months' course in August 1976, has not been able to secure a job through his Department, although he has made earnest endeavours to find one, and jobs are available locally of the type that he can undertake.
§ Mr. Golding, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 8th November 1976; Vol. 919, c. 84], gave the following information
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the normal action was taken by Letchworth skillcentre before Mr. Stewart's course finished in an attempt to find him employment in his training trade, but without success. Although there were vacancies in and around Bedford, the employers contacted were being very selective or, because of agreements with trade unions, were engaging only apprentice served craftsmen. Placing action continued at Bedford Employment Office, where several employers were contacted on his behalf. One of these offered Mr. Stewart employment outside his trade which he accepted as a stop-gap. The local employment officers are continuing their efforts to find him a job in his training trade. The Training Services Agency may be able to arrange a short refresher course in fitting-machine tool maintenance later on if necessary.