asked the Minister of Labour how many and what proportion of boys entering employment became apprentices in 1963 compared with 1962.

101,708 or 33·5 per cent. in 1963, compared with 121,517 or 36·2 per cent. in 1962.

Is the Minister aware that this reveals an extremely serious state of affairs, showing a drop of over 20,000 boys starting apprenticeships in 1963 as compared with the previous year? Does not the right hon. Gentleman feel that this is so serious that emergency action is required rather faster than the setting up and the slow deliberation of training boards? Is he further aware that the biggest drop has taken place in 15-year-old entries and that the 16 and 17-year entries have substantially increased? Does he not, therefore, feel that there would be scope for further increasing the intake of 16 and 17-year-olds during the next year?

I agree with the hon. Member that this fall is very unsatisfactory. In fact, however, this was the figure for 1963, when, as the hon. Member will realise, there were a number of employment difficulties all over the country which, no doubt, affected the percentage. In the first four months of this year, the numbers have improved over the first four months of the previous year, and I hope that this trend will continue. However, I do not agree with the hon. Member about not waiting for the implementation of the Industrial Training Act. I want to press ahead with the Act and get facilities which will embody not only apprentice training, but all forms of training in industry. That is what is needed.

Does not the Minister feel that among last year's 15-year-olds are some boys who will permanently find themselves with less opportunity unless emergency action is taken?

I hope that there will be opportunities as the training boards get going, but I will be perfectly willing to consider any other ways of helping these young people.

asked the Minister of Labour what proportion of boys entering employment in the years 1961–62 and 1962–63 were apprenticed.

From August, 1961, to July, 1962, 37·4 per cent., from August, 1962, to July, 1963, 34·1 per cent.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that progressively with technical progress more and more people will be needed in industry and proportionately fewer unskilled people? Does he not consider that these are very bad figures in an age when technological progress is such that, if we do not move quickly, within another decade we shall be out of the running unless we get more skilled people?

I accept that there is a drop between the figures I have given, but the figures for Scotland are substantially higher than those for the United Kingdom as a whole. The whole gist of the Government's policy is at present built around the Industrial Training Act, and I think that it should provide many great opportunities for far higher standards of training in the future.

Mr. Bence, Question No. 23.

Is the right hon. Gentleman referring just to Scotland alone or to the—

I did not see the hon. Gentleman rise. I am sorry about that, but I have now called the next Question.