asked the Minister of Labour how many men have now received vocational training under Government schemes; and what proportion of them have secured employment at the end of their studies.

Thirty-eight thousand, three hundred and ten men have completed courses under the vocational training scheme and approximately 85 per cent. of them have secured employment. Action to place the remainder is in hand.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these are ex-Service men and disabled?

Not without notice

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that the Government's vocational training scheme is working satisfactorily; and what steps are being taken to improve the arrangements.

Yes, Sir. The scheme is kept under constant review in consultation with the representatives of industry to ensure that any possible improvements may be effected.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that certain difficulties have arisen in the electrical industry and also in the placing of joiners in industry, and would not he agree that it may be useful to have a conference with the employers and the trade unions from time to time to review these matters?

Those are not difficulties arising out of the scheme. Those are difficulties in industry arising from a shortage of raw materials, and we are having these conferences once a quarter with representatives from all sides of the industry to see how we can get over the trouble.

Has the Minister overcome the difficulty of placing ex-Service men trainees, which does not arise from the shortage of raw materials?

That is rather a different question from the one on the Order Paper, but if my hon. and gallant Friend will put down a Question, I will certainly give an answer.

asked the Minister of Labour what financial provision he has made under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, for the vocational training of people registered under this Act on account of defective vision, whose disability is not sufficiently severe to entitle them to benefits under the Blind Persons Act.

Courses ot vocational training with allowances are available to persons who are handicapped in getting employment by defective vision irrespective of their position under the Blind Persons Act.

Is the Minister aware that there are several borderline cases where persons fall between two stools. They are not blind persons and they are not fully-sighted persons, and it is extraordinarily difficult for these people to hold a job when they get it. There are several jobs for which they could be trained, and with the goodwill of the employer they would be able to get employment in the capacity for which they are trained.

This type of person is covered by our training scheme, and he or she will be entitled to employment in the remploy factories when they are erected.

I have in my possession cases for which there are no facilities either for the training or for the employment of these persons?

I should like to have those cases, and I would be obliged if my hon Friend would send them to me.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the case of these semi-sighted men is one which really needs looking into with sympathy and understanding, and that it is by no means a solution to send them to remploy factories? Is he aware that a great many of these men could be working in ordinary industry?

I am rather surprised at the supplementary question, because this is the type of case which is receiving great attention in my Department