asked the Minister of Labour how many places will be provided in Government training and retraining centres in Scotland in the current financial year; how many in 1964–65; and whether he is satisfied that these numbers are adequate.

About 400 training places should be provided by the end of the current financial year, and about 860 in 1964–65. These numbers constitute a substantial advance, but I shall keep these plans under regular review.

Does not the Minister realise that this is a substantial advance only because the previous effort was negligible, and does he recognise, as is recognised in Scotland, that the size of the Government's effort in this matter in no way matches the magnitude of the problem which has to be tackled? Will he give further consideration to it in order to increase substantially the effort now being made or contemplated?

We must not minimise what is being done. There has been a very substantial build-up and this is being carried on at the present time. When I was in Scotland a little while ago, I went to one of these centres and saw the excellent work being done there. We must carry on on this basis. It should not be assumed that these numbers represent the total impact, because to the extent that one trains a certain number of people one is able to make provision for others who are semi-skilled to be employed as well.