asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed juveniles from the Bishop Auckland constituency are taking courses or have taken courses in the Government training centres in the North-East.

Three boys from the Bishop Auckland constituency are at present on the first year engineering apprenticeship course at Tursdale. Three others completed the same course there last year.

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary find these figures disturbing? What percentage of those six would be from the Barnard Castle Urban or Barnard Castle Rural District areas? Would the answer be none? Is it not a fact that there are no adequate training facilities for practically the whole of the constituency?

I would not find the figures disturbing, bearing in mind the purpose of the courses. As the hon. Gentleman knows, these are not the only training opportunities available in the area. In the Bishop Auckland Youth Employment Office area 64 boys obtained apprenticeships in industry in the first half of this year, and there were 189 during 1963. I think that that puts a somewhat different complexion on the problem.