HC Deb 02 July 1896 vol 42 cc524-5
SIR JOHN LENG

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether he has received a representation from the National Federal Council of Scotland for Women's Trades, stating that there are over 556,000 women engaged in specific employments in Scotland, and in view of the differences in industrial conditions between England and Scotland, it is desirable a special lady Labour Correspondent to the Board of Trade should be appointed for Scotland; and, whether he will consider the expediency of making such an appointment?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE,) Croydon

I have received the representation referred to. It is not desirable that the duties of any of the permanent officials of the Labour Department of the Board of Trade should be limited to particular geographical areas. There is at present an efficient lady Labour Correspondent, able to investigate such subjects needing inquiry in Scotland or elsewhere as falls within the province of the Department.