asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what action he is taking to resolve the problem of apprentices within the Devonport apprentice training centre not being given on-the-job training in Her Majesty's dockyard, Devonport;(2) if he will announce the numbers of apprentices to be taken on at Her Majesty's dockyard, Devonport.

These matters are currently the subject of discussion between management and trades unions at Devonport dockyard.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to utilise the Devonport apprentice training centre for the training of young people in addition to those apprentices in training for work at Her Majesty's dockyard, Devonport.

There are no plans to utilise the apprentice training centre at Devonport dockyard for the training of any young people other than Ministry of Defence apprentices in the immediate future because of the continuing refusal by the trades unions there to support the introduction of a youth training scheme.