HC Deb 26 January 1982 vol 16 c327W
Sir Frederick Burden

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many apprentices, now in their second year at Chatham dockyard, will complete their training at Devonport or Rosyth; and how they will be accommodated and paid while away from their homes.

Mr. Blaker

Plans are being made to offer to all the 135 second-year craft apprentices at Chatham the opportunity to transfer to Devonport or Rosyth dockyards. These plans include arrangements for accommodation in private lodgings or hostels and the normal regulations on pay, allowances and travel for Ministry of Defence employees working away from their home establishment will apply. Apprentices and their parents will be contacted within the next few weeks by the personnel manager at Chatham.

Sir Frederick Burden

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether second-year apprentices from Chatham, Portsmouth and Gibraltar who are sent to Devonport or Rosyth to complete their training will have to give an undertaking that on completion of the training they will remain in Royal dockyard service.

Mr. Blaker

Apprentices who transfer to Devonport or Rosyth to complete their training will not have to give an undertaking to remain in the dockyard service.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many unfilled places for apprentices there are in Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force training establishments.

Mr. Wiggin

Approximately 100 vacancies for craft apprenticeships at Service training establishments remain to be filled in the current financial year.