§ 3 Mr. Edgar Granvilleasked the Minister of Labour if he will consider setting up pools of domestic servants, in villages and suitable areas, in order that the available workers in the category may not be competed for by those who can afford it but shared by the aged and infirm and the dependants of those in the Services who find themselves in a position of dire necessity.
§ Mr. BevinAs I explained in the answer which I have to the hon. Member for East Middlesbrough (Mr. A. Edwards) on 20th April, my policy is to give the highest priority in the supply of domestic workers to households where the lack of domestic help is causing exceptional hardship. My local offices will welcome any offers of help from women who may be able to give full-or part-time help in this way and will ensure that they are put in touch with households needing help.
§ Mr. GranvilleIn view of the fact that there are serious inequalities in this domestic servant situation up and down the country, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that there should be some sort of need test before an excessive number of servants is allowed for households; or has he considered a census of domestic servants?
§ Mr. BevinI have investigated hundreds of cases, but the needs of domestic life vary and I have been reluctant to try to reduce the domestic life of this country to a regimentation. I am working very hard to produce a state of affairs which will put domestic help on an organised basis, but it is a very difficult problem.
§ Mr. GallacherWill the Minister, in order to assist to solve this problem, make attendance at domestic science schools compulsory for the somewhat helpless females of the higher income class?
§ Mr. GranvilleIn order to ventilate this matter and bring further information to the right hon. Gentleman, I beg to give notice that I shall raise it on the Adjournment.
§ 5. Sir Henry Morris-Jonesasked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the case, particulars of which have been sent to him, of a household of two with four boys usually at school, where there were in March eight indoor servants; and whether, in view of the present shortage of domestic help, he intends to take any action.
§ Sir H. Morris-JonesCan my right hon. Friend, at the same time, cause inquiry to be made in regard to a large number of other cases, of which I have particulars, in other parts of the country and even in his own constituency; and may I ask him whether, in view of the circumstances, he cannot find some reasonable means of dealing with this use of our man and woman-power throughout the country?
§ Mr. BevinI will look into it, but I would be particularly intrigued at finding anybody in my constituency with eight servants.