36. Mr. EDMUND HARVEYasked the Postmaster-General whether he will reconsider the possibility of providing some form of compulsory continuation classes for the number of young girls now employed as temporary messengers in the 688 Post Office, in view of the success which has attended the institution of such classes for boy telegraph messengers?
Mr. PEASEI regret that it is impracticable to make special arrangements, on the lines of those adopted for boy messengers, for the education of the girl messengers employed in the Post Office as a temporary war measure. In London the names and addresses of these girls are being supplied to the London County Council for the information of the children's care committees, and I propose to suggest to the council that those committees should encourage the girls to attend continuation classes.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEWill the right hon. Gentleman consider whether the Standing Committee on Boy Labour appointed by the right hon. Gentleman's predecessor will take this matter into their consideration?
Mr. PEASEThe whole matter has been carefully looked into, but there are difficulties in connection with sending these girls to classes in the present time, when the streets are darkened, and it is obviously very undesirable that they should be travelling about London after their day's work is over.