asked the Minister of Labour if he will consult local authorities and other interested bodies, with a view to launching a drive to provide adequate training and employment opportunities for mentally and physically handicapped persons.

I understand that the hon. Member is concerned about the adequacy of sheltered employment facilities for severely disabled persons. These facilities are provided by Remploy and by a number of local authorities and voluntary bodies, with financial assistance from my Department. Plans are being made for two more workshops in Scotland and the need for additional facilities is kept under review. If the hon. Member will let me have details of any particular problems he has in mind I will certainly consider them.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that there is not the same enthusiasm among local authorities for this type of service as is evident for other services in different parts of the country? Will he appoint someone in his Department to try to raise enthusiasm for this lofty project so that these unfortunate people not only have training facilities but will be able to look forward to a life of employment?

I do not disagree with what the hon. Gentleman says, but he knows that two establishments were opened last year at Falkirk and Mother-well. I hope that other local authorities in Scotland will follow that example, where there is a need for additional facilities. I trust that hon. Members on both sides will do all that they can to stimulate local authorities to move in this direction.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed were registered at the Wigan Employment Exchange at the latest convenient date.

2,627 at 11th February.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the considerable concern in Wigan and district about the lack of employment prospects? How many of the more than 2,000 unemployed are wholly unemployed? Will the hon. Gentleman contact the President of the Board of Trade with a view to encouraging new industries to come to Wigan and district?

I note what the hon. Gentleman says about my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. Just under 2,000 of the figure I gave were wholly unemployed, and a considerable number of them were in construction work. We hope that these people will soon be back at work.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the percentage of unemployment at the latest date in the area served by the Weston-super-Mare employment exchange.

6·7 per cent. at 11th February.

Is my hon. Friend aware that with the curtailing of a Government contract for Messrs. Henly, this ceases to be a seasonal problem? Is he further aware that the factory concerned is not permitted to obtain non-Government contracts while this contract is being run down?

I note what my hon. Friend has said. I am sure that he will be the first to appreciate that this is a matter for the firm to negotiate with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War. I will certainly see that my right hon. Friend's attention is drawn to what my hon. Friend has said.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the figure for unemployment amongst school leavers and young people in the area served by the Weston-super-Mare employment exchange at the last convenient date.

On 11th February, 99 boys and girls, including 18 school leavers, were registered for employment.

Were all of the 18 school leavers Christmas school leavers?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the annual average cost per pupil place in his Department's training centres; and what he estimates will be the capital cost per pupil place in providing new centres.

The average annual running cost of the centres is at present approximately £385 per place excluding, and £820 per place including, the cost of the allowances, fares, etc. of trainees. The capital cost of providing new centres varies greatly according to location, availability of premises and the trades to be taught, and it is impracticable to make a general estimate.

In view of the recently announced expansion of training centres, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the pattern of workshop specification which the Minister of Education uses when planning technical colleges, which perform very much the same sort of work?

I can assure my hon. Friend that I keep in close touch with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education.

Does my hon. Friend agree that especially in areas where existent industries are contracting there will be a great need for skilled labour and that the economy, as it expands, will demand more skilled labour? Will my right hon. Friend try to ensure that there is a rapid extension of training in Government centres?

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I am sure that there will be a need for an extension of training in Government centres, and I can assure both him and the House that I have the matter very much in mind.

asked the Minister of Labour what recognised syllabus/ curriculum is pursued by industrial trainees in his Department's training centres; and what is the wastage figure.

Each of the 38 training trades has its own detailed syllabus prepared by my specialist technical stall in consultation with both sides of industry.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that there is no hard and fast line between technical education and industrial training, and that when he frames his proposals for legislation, as he shortly must do, a great deal of frustration, expense and vexation would be avoided if he could follow the established practice of the release of apprentices to the technical colleges, which is running very satisfactorily?

I do not think that there are any simple answers to what my hon. Friend has in mind. She will, of course, have read the White Paper, which makes it quite clear that I am discussing these proposals, not only with both sides of industry, but with my other colleagues in the Government, of whom my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education is a very important one.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Ministry of Labour training centres exist; where they are situated; what is the capacity of the training centre in the Merseyside area; and how many young people from St. Helens, Lancashire, attend it.

There are 13 Government training centres, situated at Newcastle, Leeds, Letchworth, Slough, Enfield, Perivale, Croydon, Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham, Leicester, Liverpool and Glasgow. Two hundred and ninety-four places, including 24 for apprentices, are available at the Liverpool centre. One young person from St. Helens attends that centre.

I understand that the Minister said that one young person from St. Helens is attending the Liverpool training centre. What are we to do about the other 422 boys and girls who are receiving no training? Is the Minister aware that out of the total of almost 3,000 unemployed in St. Helens, the great bulk are unskilled people? If these youngsters are not given a chance to train for a trade, they, too, will join the ranks of the unemployed when the unskilled worker is least wanted. What is the right hon. Gentleman doing through his Department to provide proper training schemes for the unemployed boys and girls?

As I have told the House, I am considering proposals for extending training facilities. Certainly, the needs of St. Helens will be considered together with the Liverpool area as a whole. I know that the journey is 12 miles, but we must try to locate these places to serve the greatest possible area and for the greatest convenience of people in the area.

In view of the urgency of industrial training, on which both sides of the House are agreed, will my right hon. Friend say whether he has any specific plans for expansion for the future generally?

Yes. I have said that I am considering a programme for further expansion of training facilities. I will announce it when I have the plans ready.

Can the Minister give an assurance that when these people have been retrained, they will be provided with employment?

I am hopeful that the employment situation will improve.

asked the Minister of Labour how many immigrant work permits are outstanding; for how long they are available; if he will refuse to issue any more until the unemployment figure is below 400,000 in order to give British workers the first chance of jobs; and if he will make a statement.

The number of vouchers outstanding is about 20,000. A voucher is valid for six months from the date of issue, though this period may be extended up to one year where good reason is shown. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave him on 7th March.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that it is completely barmy for British Railways to be sacking men in this country because it has no work for them and at the same time to be recruiting men in the West Indies to work on the railways here? In view of the fact that he will be nagged at all afternoon to find jobs for men in various constituencies, is it not stupid to let more men come here?

I must remind my hon. Friend of the intention of the legislation that we passed on this subject. We are controlling the issue of vouchers very carefully, and a large number of applicants have been told that they will have to wait before they can get a voucher. I must remind my hon. Friend that the Act is intended to control immigration and not to stop it altogether.

Will the Minister confirm that the number of immigrants from the Commonwealth declined steeply during the latter part of last year as unemployment in this country rose, thus establishing a relationship which we on this side of the House said would exist in any case?

I do not know about "exist in any case". What the hon. Gentleman has said is true in that far fewer people are coining in for jobs this year than before the Act came into being. This is partly due to the fact that we have these powers and partly due to what the hon. Gentleman has said.

Surely the fall in the number of immigrants coming into this country is due completely to the Act.

I have said that I think that it is a combination of the two factors mentioned.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of unemployed young people registered at the three Sunderland employment exchanges in Sunderland, Pallion and Southwick.

As I told my hon. Friend on 4th February, young people do not register at these exchanges. On 11th February, 567 boys and 189 girls were registered at the Sunderland County Borough and Sunderland (North East) Youth Employment Bureaux minus Seaham.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the percentage of unemployed young people in Sunderland, taking into account only those young people resident in the County Borough of Sunderland.

I must refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to his own Question on 4th February.

Cannot my hon. Friend find ways and means of issuing the figures for the three exchanges in the County Borough of Sunderland, lest the position is confused by taking in people from far outside the county borough boundaries?

I am sure that my hon. Friend will be the first to appreciate, on the somewhat narrower point that he has made, that this would involve a considerable amount of extra work. I know that my hon. Friend is a great watch-dog of public expenditure and I do not think he would want this disproportionate amount of work to be undertaken.

asked the Minister of Labour how many young persons are registered as unemployed in Sheffield; how many school leavers have failed to find employment since mid-1962; and what facilities, for which he is responsible, exist in Sheffield for the industrial or commercial training of unemployed youngsters.

On 11th February, 417 young persons were registered; 36 of these were Christmas leavers and one was an Easter 1962 leaver. The Department does not provide training courses at Sheffield but there are opportunities at colleges of further education in the city for young people to follow courses which will prepare them for industry and commerce.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the number of unemployed young persons in Sheffield is in fact growing and that there is serious concern in this city about the facilities available for them for industrial training? Is he also aware that in an industrial city like Sheffield the industries depend upon skilled craftsmen, and that we cannot afford to waste even potential craftsmen to the number of 417, and training facilities ought to be provided in industry?

I think that one would be bound to agree with the hon. Gentleman on the great value of training facilities in industry, and I am sure that the industrialists of Sheffield are not slow to appreciate that. School leavers are not the whole problem, for by the middle of February only 3 per cent. of the 1,353 Christmas school leavers were still registered as unemployed.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total number of persons over and under 18, respectively, registering as unemployed, in March, 1961, 1962, and 1963, respectively, in Scotland.

On 13th March, 1961, 69,037 people aged 18 or over and 3,170 aged under 18 were registered as unemployed compared with 75,759 and 4,468 respectively on 12th March, 1962. The figures for March, 1963, are not yet available.

Will not the Minister agree that this is a serious state of affairs? Is it not about time that he drew the attention of the Prime Minister to the scandalous unemployment situation in Scotland? Would he consider, for example, asking the Prime Minister to call a conference of all the Ministers involved, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the President of the Board of Trade, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the spending Ministers, with a view to getting both orders and new industries into Scotland, and thus tackling this serious problem in a realistic fashion?

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the Government take very seriously the whole problem of unemployment in Scotland. He knows perfectly well, for instance, that the Prime Minister has seen the Scottish T.U.C., the Scottish Council and the Secretary of State for Scotland, together with my other right hon. Friends who have responsibility in this field. They are, of course, doing all that they can to improve the situation.

Is it not the case that the Government knew that the railways were going to close down and that they appointed Dr. Beeching for the purpose? Is it not the case that they knew that the mines were going to close down, and that they knew that shipbuilding was going into decline, and why have they waited until the last moment to try to remedy all that?

The answer is that it is quite true that the contraction of the older industries has caused a greater loss of jobs than the production of new jobs. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, a considerable effort has been made to provide new jobs. We want to see that the effort is increased very considerably in order to deal with that wastage in the older industries of which the right hon. Gentleman has been talking.

asked the Minister of Labour how many workers are unemployed in the Bishop Auckland travel-to-work area; and how many of these are being or are about to be retrained.

On 11th February, 1963, there were 4,504 unemployed in the Bishop Auckland travel-to-work area. Twenty-two persons from this area are in training under Government vocational training schemes, six are awaiting training and 11 applications are under consideration.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this is the thirteenth successive month in which the unemployment figures have increased? Is he further aware that these training figures are pitiable? Will he consider locating a Government training centre in Bishop Auckland and taking similar steps to retrain at least some of the men?

My right hon. Friend will be extremely glad to know that he has the support of the hon. Member for the expansion of adult retraining. The hon. Member will also know that a new training centre is being set up at Tursdale which, I think, will serve the Bishop Auckland travel-to-work area. In reply to the hon. Member's comment about the figures going up for 13 months, let us hope that they will go down in the fourteenth.

In view of the figures which have been given for the Bishop Auckland area, which includes Crook and the whole of the West, will the Minister now reconsider his decision on the restriction at Tursdale to take in only 24 trainees when he can make full use of the Brancepeth Camp scheme, which could be enlarged and would meet the needs of the problem in the West?

The hon. Member is not entirely correct in mentioning a figure of only 24 for Tursdale. That figure refers to apprenticeship training, but there are training places planned at Tursdale for 98 adults.

Has the Minister any idea of the travelling difficulties for people in places like Copley, Evenwood and West Auckland to travel to work to Tursdale?

Yes. As I know that part of the world and come from not far from it, I certainly have.

asked the Minister of Labour how many workers are unemployed in the Barnard Castle and Middleton-in-Teesdale areas; and what prospects there are of their being reemployed shortly.

Four hundred and thirty on 11th February. I understand that employers in the area hope shortly to re-employ some of the men stood off owing to bad weather.

How long must the figure remain at something like 11 per cent. before the Minister recommends the area as a development district?

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade will certainly note what the hon. Member has said. It is fair to point out concerning these figures that a large number of the unemployed were temporarily stopped, due mainly to the weather. My local knowledge of the area, which lies between the hon. Member's constituency and my own, makes me realise that it is more subject to severe weather than many other places.

Is the Minister aware that he must travel in all these parts with a motor car?

asked the Minister of Labour if he will introduce legislation to ensure that private firms provide special funds for financial assistance to redundant employees.

Methods of improving arrangements for dealing with redundancy are being studied by my Ministry and by the employers, nationalised industries and trade unions on my National Joint Advisory Council. The subject will be discussed at the next meeting of the Council in April. At this stage I do not want to prejudge the best ways of handling this problem.

Does not the Minister appreciate that it is when an industry is enjoying good times that money should be put away to meet future redundancy? Is he aware that many industries which are making a profit are prepared to do this and to dissociate the funds from their own companies?

As I have told the hon. Member, I am studying this problem. It is a very big one. There are all sorts of views upon it and I want to find the answers. I hope that I shall have considerable assistance from both sides in industry in the deliberations on which I have embarked.

Are not severance payments by the individual firms concerned the most appropriate method of dealing with the problem?

Not necessarily. There is the obvious disadvantage that smaller firms in particular which are in financial difficulty will not have the necessary money. That is exactly one of the aspects which must be considered.

In recognising all the difficulties, may I ask whether there is any reason why at least all Government Departments cannot make a start in providing redundancy agreements for their own employees? Whatever the problems for the private employer, at least the Government could surely give a lead.

The nationalised industries give the very sort of lead that the hon. Member has in mind.

Is the Minister aware that this matter has been under consideration for a very long time? In view of its urgency, will he expedite the discussions which he is having with both sides of industry on this matter and give us a report and let us know what he is doing as quickly as possible?

As the hon. Member knows, I am not very good at making promises. He also knows, however, that I am fairly impatient in these matters. [Interruption.] That is not true. I think I have carried out every promise which I have given as Minister of Labour. I assure the hon. Member that I shall not delay unnecessarily.

Will the Minister be prepared to accept information from me?

I am always prepared to accept information.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a study has been made by the Factory Inspectorate of the reasons for the 8½ per cent. increase in accidents on construction sites last year; what reasons have emerged; what steps he is taking to try to reverse this trend; and if he will make a statement.

This percentage is based on provisional figures which have not yet been analysed. A full analysis will be published later in the year in the Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Factories for 1962. I am doing everything I can to increase interest and activity in safety matters.

In the study that is being given to this serious situation, will the Minister consider the frequency with which each building site or construction site is inspected? Will he study the relationship between the rate of inspections and the incidence of accidents, this being one matter which is within his control, so that he can study whether an increase in the Factory Inspectorate for this type of site would have an effect on the accident trend?

I certainly am considering every effective means. The hon. Member knows, however, that under our recent construction regulations, a big move forward will take effect this year whereby safety instructors and supervisors have to be made available where not less than 20 people are employed, as against the old regulations which did not become effective until 50 people were employed.

Is it not true that the building industry is providing many more safety training courses?

That is true. It is an indication of what I said earlier. Far more general interest in this matter is, very rightly, being shown. I am glad to say that something like double the number of safety training courses are now being organised within the industry itself. This is a very good sign.

asked the Minister of Labour the cost to his Department of providing free railway vouchers to workers employed away from their home areas who need to travel home for domestic reasons.

In 1962, the arrangements for assisted home visits cost my Department about £5,400, and for emergency visits just over £700.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is my view that he need not be inhibited in any way in asking the Chancellor of the Exchequer for a substantial increase in the sum available for this purpose, since British Railways are being subsidised at the rate of more than £100 million a year and the amount of money that would be spent on these fares would, therefore, be a purely paper transaction? At the same time, if more money were to be made available, young men could come from other parts of the country to where work is available and go back home.

I know my hon. Friend's feelings on this subject, but he will, I think, remember that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary told him last month that I was considering increasing the number of assisted fares. But I probably would not go quite as far or as fast as my hon. Friend would like me to do.

asked the Minister of Labour what estimate he has made of the number of jobs lost in agriculture, mining and quarrying in Scotland in the second half of 1962.

The only reliable and comprehensive figures for these industries in Scotland are those derived from changes in the numbers employed and relate to the middle of the year. Later changes can be estimated only for manufacturing industries. Between mid-1961 and mid-1962, however, there was a fall of about 3,000 in agriculture and horticulture and 6,700 in mining and quarrying.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that if the rate continues for the period mentioned in the Question, then the number of jobs lost during the last six months of last year alone will be about 15,000? When are the Government going to do something for Scotland in order to try to compensate for this?

In answer to a previous Question I said that it was the Government's intention to do all they can to ensure that new industry is attracted to Scotland, that Scotland gets a far greater diversification and becomes less dependent on its older industries.

Would my right lion. Friend agree, particularly with his Knowledge and experience of the agricultural industry, that agriculture, and particularly agriculture in Scotland, has never been in a higher state of efficiency despite its shortage of manpower?

Yes, Sir; I believe that to be true.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that as a result of the Government's efforts we got only 9,000 new jobs last year, and if we lose jobs at the rate of 15,000 in six months, that is a very small contribution?

That is precisely why the Government want to do all they can to increase the provision of new jobs.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement about the labour disputes which have held up work on the new section of the Kincardine Power Station; and what was their duration and extent.

According to my information there have been seven unofficial stoppages during the three years the new section has been under construction. Their duration has varied from four days to eight weeks and about 4,200 working days have been lost.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the chief engineer seemed to attribute the delay in completing the station to these labour stoppages, but, as my information is that it was due to technical troubles and growing pains in the installation of the machinery, is it not right that when statements are made a fair picture should be given and that there should not be this continual effort to accuse the workers of being responsible for all delays?

I am all for fair accounts being given, but, obviously, these stoppages contributed to the delay in the building of the station. The right hon. Gentleman will have realised that from the answer which I have given. He also knows, however, that I have been concerned about the troubles that have taken place on these large construction sites. I have, therefore, asked the employers and the trade unions in the industry to get together with me to see whether we can work out better arrangements for dealing with the complaints and troubles which are so often associated with large construction sites.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of wholly unemployed in the Oldham area for the latest available date this year, the comparable figure for last year, and the number of vacancies available at the same dates.

At the Oldham and Chadderton Employment Exchange, 1,488 workers were registered as wholly unemployed on 11th February and 984 in February, 1962; the corresponding numbers of unfilled vacancies notified to the Exchange were 199 and 683.

As the figures will exclude temporarily suspended workers and many married women, is the hon. Gentleman aware that the figures that he has given represent about a 50 per cent. increase in those of last year and an increase of about 120 per cent. on those for the year before? In view of that and the depressed condition of the textile industry, would the Parliamentary Secretary suggest to the Minister that he might have a word with both the President of the Board of Trade and the Chancellor of the Exchequer and point out that a combination, possibly, of Purchase Tax reduction and some alleviation of import difficulties might be helpful to the industry and to the unemployment situation?

I would point out to the hon. Gentleman that, as I am sure he appreciates, the largest increase was in the construction industry and we all have our reasonable hopes there. Nevertheless, all the right hon. Gentlemen whom the hon. Gentleman mentioned will certainly take note of what he has said.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the increased unemployment in the Central West Fife area, the consequent overcrowding of existing employment exchanges, and the travelling costs falling on those unemployed, he will consider opening further exchanges at Bowhill and Kelty.

My right hon. Friend hopes to provide temporary offices at Bowhill and Kelty next week.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in one way we are grateful for this but in so far as it is a reflection on the Government's inability to solve the unemployment problem it is highly unsatisfactory? Is he aware that unemployment in Fife generally has gone up 93 per cent. in the last eight months, and very much more than that in the mining areas, and it is likely to get worse? In those circumstances, will not he and the Government take adequate steps to obviate the need to extend the facilities of employment exchanges?

I am glad that I have satisfied the hon. Gentleman in doing what he was asking about. As to his wider remarks, I think he knows as well as anyone else the many steps which are being taken to improve the unemployment position.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us how many new jobs are likely to be created by the extension of employment exchanges in Scotland?

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the estimate for expenditure under the Local Employment Act for 1963–64 is about half the estimate for the previous year? How on earth can he expect to solve the unemployment problem and, therefore, obviate the need for expanding employment exchange facilities in these circumstances?

I think the hon. Gentleman would be the first to agree that his remarks go very much wider than the Question he put to me.

asked the Minister of Labour how many adults, at the latest available date, were unemployed in the Mexborough employment exchange area.

1,245.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that these figures are very disturbing? Is there any possibility of the area being scheduled under the Local Employment Act? If so, is the hon. Gentleman aware that we shall want a new pipeline in the district, one which Ministers will go through to make sure that jobs are kept flowing until the unemployment problem is solved?

I will note what the hon. Gentleman has said. I should not like his idea to be followed through because, in my case, the pipe would have to be a rather big one.

asked the Minister of Labour how many youths under the age of 18 years, at the latest available date, were unemployed in the Mexborough employment exchange area.

95 boys on 11th February.

This also is a rather shocking state of affairs. Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the youths in the Dearne Valley district are becoming more frustrated day by day, week by week? When are the Government going to do something to make certain that the youths not only of Dearne Valley but of south Yorkshire and the whole country will be able to look forward with some promise to having a job in the future? I hope that the Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary will do more about this issue than they are doing at the present time.

I assure the hon. Gentleman that I hope that increasing opportunities for young people will come in the months ahead. Certainly, everything possible will be done to ensure that they do.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has received the resolution of the Stoke Newington Borough Council, drawing attention to its grave concern at the substantial increase in the number of unemployed in the area of Stoke Newington and Hackney; and what action he proposes to take.

My right hon. Friend has received the resolution and he is aware of the rise in unemployment in this area. The particular points raised by the council are the concern of the Treasury and the Board of Trade to whom copies of the resolution have been sent.

Now that the problem of unemployment is really serious in London, will the Minister accept the advice in the words of this resolution:

"… urge the Government to take immediate measures to effect an acceleration of trade in industries in which there is large-scale unemployment by increasing trade with the Commonwealth and Eastern Europe and removing Purchase Tax on all household goods and furniture."?

I think that the hon. and learned Gentleman would be the first to agree that his supplementary question goes somewhat wider than anything for which I have Vie responsibility for replying. Copies of the resolution have been sent to the Ministers concerned, and it will be carefully noted.

I am only asking the hon. Gentleman to urge the Government to do something. Surely he can do that?

If it were necessary I could, but it is not necessary.

asked the Minister of Labour in what skilled trades there is a shortage; for which craft apprenticeships it is intended to train more workers; what was the increase in apprenticeships last year; by how many it is intended to increase the number of apprentices this year; what is the purpose of the suggested training boards; and what is the estimated annual expenditure on the implementation of the Carr Report and other ancillary proposals of his department.

For several years past there have been general shortages of draughts-men and of skilled workers in the main engineering, vehicle building, construction and woodworking occupations. Although they have eased during the past year these shortages will again become serious with a revival of economic activity. The number of apprentices taken on results from the decisions made by individual employers. 7,500 more young people entered apprenticeships in 1962 than in 1961. Without establishing a precise target I expect the increased numbers to be maintained in future. The purpose of the training boards is to improve the quality and share more evenly the burden of training, and to relate the numbers trained more realistically to long-term needs. The implementation of the Carr Report proposals lay primarily with industry but the Government has made a grant-in-aid of £75,000 to the Industrial Training Council to assist the development of training.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the number of skilled men unemployed and the few vacancies for them shown in the Ministry of Labour Gazette of February, 1963, he will cancel the proposed training in the occupation of pottery, platers, welders, fitters, woodworkers and patternmakers and moulders.

There are no courses in pottery, plating, patternmaking or moulding at Government Training Centres. There are long established classes in welding, fitting and woodworking. There are not at present as many vacancies as normally in these trades but the training programme is geared to likely future demands. The long-term interests of the economy require an increase rather than a decrease in training.

Has the right hon. Gentleman read the latest Ministry of Labour Gazette which states that in all the skilled trades to which he has referred the number of unemployed in each locality is three or four times the number of vacancies? What is the good of expenditure on effort of this kind if when they have been trained young men cannot be found employment?

I have the greatest respect for the hon. Member, who is a very experienced Member of this House, but I really cannot agree with a word of what he has just said. I refuse to be a prophet of woe. I believe that there will be future expansion in this country, and I believe, too, that expansion will not be possible unless we have the young men, and, indeed, the older men and women, trained in the skills required.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that prosperity, and the survival of prosperity, in this country, depends on producing greater and more accurate skills rather than on going in the opposite direction?

That is precisely my view.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the general qualities of apprenticeship training in many industries? Is he satisfied that boys who have served five years' apprenticeship have had adequate training in skills such as patternmaking? Is not inadequate training a contributing factor when they cannot get jobs?

I am by no means satisfied. One of the purposes of the new industrial training proposals is to look into that very point. I have put three questions to the main apprenticeship industries. First, are they satisfied with the quality and quantity of apprenticeship training, and if not, what are they going to do about it? Secondly, are they satisfied that the length of apprenticeship is the correct one'? Thirdly, are they satisfied with the existing arrangements, many of which were formed years ago?

In addition to that, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the need for the retraining of men from redundant industries, many of whom are often of quite advanced years? Is he aware of the success of the retraining centre set up by the E.E.C. in the Borinage area of Belgium, where miners have been retrained very successfully in a number of other skills?

I take note of what my hon. Friend has said. Of course, this is not merely a question of training the young but also of retraining older men who become redundant in industries which are running down.

asked the Minister of Labour what representations have been made to him by trade unions or by the Trades Union Congress to introduce legislation restricting the employment of women for reward during the period following childbirth.

asked the Minister of Labour what representations have been made to him about the need for amend- ing legislation in regard to the employment of women after childbirth; and from which organisations they came.

In March, 1961, the Trades Union Congress asked for provision to be made in the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Bill, prohibiting the employment of women for seven weeks after childbirth.

What representations has the right hon. Gentleman received in relation to the Private Member's Bill introduced by the noble Lord the Member for Hertford (Lord Balniel)? Has he received representations from women associated with the T.U.C. or from other women's organisations opposing it?

No. The representations I have received were from the T.U.C. It was thought that this matter would be better dealt with in the Bill introduced by my noble Friend than in the Government's Measure.

Will my right hon. Friend accept the suggestion that, since a Bill which takes a great deal of understanding is likely to cause some concern, it would be more helpful if women Members on both sides of the House were consulted before it was introduced?

I am sure that my noble Friend will take note of what my hon. Friend says.

asked the Minister of Labour in what instances, in the implementation of legislation relating to factories and places of work, it is necessary for personal information to be supplied to employers by employees.

Under certain regulations for processes where there may be a risk of anthrax, the employee must report any cut or sore to his foreman. Under the Compressed Air and Diving Regulations, employees must report certain ailments to their employers. Under the Ionising Radiations (Sealed Sources) Regulations, new employees must in certain circumstances tell the employer of any previous employment involving exposure to ionising radiations.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Bill introduced by the noble Lord the Member for Hertford (Lord Balniel) contains an entirely new element? Under it, it will be necessary for an employer to inquire into the private personal life of new women employees. Does not this represent a grave invasion of personal freedom? Would it not be as well if the right hon. Gentleman recognised that, by supporting the Measure, he is lending himself to legislation which, though supposed to protect women, is opposed by most women?

I did not know what the hon. Lady had in mind here. As far as I know, there will be no compulsion on the women concerned to reveal information they do not want to reveal.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that an employer will make himself liable to a fine unless he ensures that he is correctly informed, and that, therefore, there will be an element of compulsion on the employees to give such information?

There is a certain measure of dispute about the wording of the Bill but perhaps this is not the moment to go into that.

asked the Minister of Labour how many shipbuilding workers in East Anglia are at present unemployed; and how many of these are registered at the Great Yarmouth Employment Exchange.

At 11th February, 165 and 11 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour how many school leavers ate unemployed in the London area.

430 in the Greater London area on 11th February.

Does not this disturbing figure prove the serious impact of unemployment on the London area? Can it be wondered that there is so much juvenile delinquency when, on leaving school, so many boys and girls find that the opportunity to earn a living is denied to them?

The number of Christmas school leavers who registered for employ- ment was 16,607 and only 411 have not yet been found jobs. I hope that we shall be able to place them.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were unemployed in the City and County of Aberdeen at the latest date, according to trade, industry and sex; what steps he has taken during the last month to reduce those numbers; and how those figures compare with the unemployment figures in the same areas during each of the last 10 years.

The reply to the first and last parts of the Question consists of tables of figures and I will, with permission, circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The tables contain an analysis by industry and sex for February, 1963, and, for the earlier years, unemployment figures by sexes only. The analysis by industry is not readily available for previous years and I regret that it would involve a disproportionate amount of staff time to prepare.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that that is a very uninformative Answer and that he is therefore escaping the opportunity of my putting a supplementary question? Is he further aware that the figures are shocking and represent a terrible waste of human life? Will he consult the President of the Board of Trade and other Ministers with a view to finding some solution to this terrible problem in the north-east of Scotland, not the north-east of England?

It was in order to give the hon. and learned Gentleman the maximum information that I adopted the method I did. It does not seem to have inhibited him in any way from asking a supplementary question. I note what he has said, as will my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us the number of draftsmen included in these figures for the shipbuilding industry? These men are valuable workers. What steps is the hon. Gentleman's Department taking to see that they are employed to the benefit not only of the north-east of Scotland but to the rest of Britain?

asked the Minister of Labour what action he is taking to ensure that civilian employees made redundant by the change in status of the Royal Air Force station at Tangmere are able to find employment.

I could not give the figure without notice but I note what the hon. Gentleman has said.

I understand that there will be no redundancies before October. The Chichester employment exchange manager will arrange to register the employees concerned before they become redundant and will do everything possible to assist them to find other work.

While thanking my hon. Friend, may I ask him to urge the Minister of Labour to take the initiative and consult the Secretary of State for Air and the Minister of Aviation to see whether this fine airfield cannot be put to a more useful purpose and thus supply more employment than would be the case if it became a mere relief landing ground?

I note what my hon. Friend says, but, a he will appreciate, this is a matter for the Secretary of State for Air. I can assure him that my right hon. Friend is well aware of the issues involved.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of men and of women unemployed in north Staffordshire for the most recent month available.

7,510 men and 1,269 women at 1lth February, 1963.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think that it is time that his right hon. Friend studied the situation in north Staffordshire where unemployment is continually on the upgrade? Does he appreciate that this is an area in which the number of unemployed women is much higher than appears to be the case, because, as so many women do not pay full insurance contributions and are therefore not registered, the employment exchange figures do not give the whole picture? Will the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend and the President of the Board of Trade to look at the whole area again?

I can assure the hon. Lady that both my right hon. Friends will look very carefully at this area. The hon. Lady said that unemployment in the area has been on the upgrade. I very much hope that it will soon start to be on the downgrade.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of boys engaged as apprentices and learners, respectively, in the iron and steel industry of Scotland, during each of the past three years.

Separate figures are not available for apprentices and learners. The total numbers entering apprenticeships and learnerships were 355 in 1960, 431 in 1961 and 364 in 1962.

As it is possible that the steel industry is the industry upon which Scotland's future most depends, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the present position is satisfactory? There has been a decline in the last year. Is he in touch with the industry and doing everything he can, and will he tell us what he is doing to stimulate the industry into recruiting more youngsters?

One can never be satisfied with these matters. I should like to see an improvement, but the House must realise that the overall apprenticeship situation in Scotland has improved. In 1962, the proportion of boys who obtained apprenticeships in all industries in Scotland was 38·9 per cent. compared with 36·2 per cent. in Great Britain as a whole.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of boys entering apprenticeships in the engineering and shipbuilding industry of Scotland during each of the past three years.

In engineering and shipbuilding, 2,055 boys entered apprenticeships in 1960, 2,509 in 1961 and 2,407 in 1962. The number of boys entering apprenticeships in all industries in Scotland has risen from 10,733 in 1960 to 14.077 in 1962.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman recognise that the figures have been practically static over the period? Can he make some representations to the Board of Trade and similar Ministries with a view to encouraging an improvement in the shipbuilding industry?

There has been a fairly small decline in engineering and shipbuilding, but despite the difficulties which Scotland is facing, I am glad to say that the overall number of young people entering apprenticeships has increased.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of boys employed as apprentices in the railway vehicle and wagon building industry in each of the past three years; and what proportion of these was engaged in Scotland.

Figures are not available of the numbers employed as apprentices. The numbers who entered apprenticeships were 1,068 in 1960, 1,106 in 1961 and 853 in 1962. The proportions of these in Scotland were 4·3 per cent., 4·5 per cent. and 4·5 per cent., respectively.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the figures indicate that Scotland is not having its proper share of this manufacturing industry? Would he approach his right hon. Friends to see whether something cannot be done in this regard and to see whether Scotland cannot get back some of the work of building railway wagons and railway vehicles?

I will certainly see that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport is made aware of what the hon. Gentleman has said.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of boys engaged as apprentices in the telegraph and telephone apparatus manufacturing industry of Great Britain in each of the past three years; and what proportion of these was engaged in Scotland.

In the telegraph and telephone apparatus manufacturing industry, 309 boys entered apprenticeships in 1960, 324 in 1961 and 242 in 1962. The proportions of these in Scotland were 1·0 per cent, 1·2 per cent. and 1·2 per cent., respectively.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman shocked by those figures? He has been telling us all afternoon that the Government would do all they could for Scotland. That has been his repeated cry. But while apprenticeships in the old industries have been going down, here is a new industry for which Scotland is getting only 1 per cent. of the apprentices. Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the President of the Board of Trade and the Treasury that that figure indicates a complete failure of the Distribution of Industry Act, and will he do something about it?

I do not think that it represents a failure of that sort. I have repeatedly said in the House, and I believe this to be the view of most hon. Members, that the Government want to see Scotland getting its all-round share of industries other than the merely traditional industries.