§ 13. Sir WILLIAM BYLESasked how many women have now been registered under the war work scheme of the Government; and how many of these have had work allotted to them?
§ Captain PRETYMANThe total number of women who have signified their willingness to be placed on the War Service Register up to the 4th June was 78,946. The total number of those whose services it has been possible hitherto to make use of is 1,816. It should, however, be borne in mind:—
In this connection it may be noted that the placings from the ordinary Labour Exchange registers for the four weeks ended 14th May of this year amounted to 26,159, as compared with 18,757 for the corresponding month of last year—an increase of 39 per cent. I should also like to point out that the main object with which the special War Register was compiled was to ascertain what reserve labour would be available if required to meet emergencies which might arise in the future, rather than to recruit labour for existing vacancies generally. Special steps are, however, about to be taken with a view [...] bringing to the notice of 348 employers the large reserves of women's labour which have been discovered, and the possibility of obtaining therefrom substitutes for men whom they may able to release for service with the Colours.
- (1) That numbers of the applicants on the War Service Register placed their names also on the ordinary Labour Exchange registers.
- (2) That in filling vacancies the supply of suitable labour on the ordinary register is first exhausted before the resources of the War Service Register are drawn upon.
§ Sir W. BYLESDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that forms a sufficient explanation why exceptionally qualified women who were invited to register, and have registered for many, many weeks, have been unable to obtain any employment?
§ Captain PRETYMANIf the hon. Gentleman refers to the last part of my answer, he will see that the attention of employers is to be drawn to that fact as early as possible.