§ 20. Mr. O'GRADYasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that, owing to the number of attendants who have enlisted into His Majesty's Forces, the West Riding (Wakefield) Asylum Board or its officers have placed female nurses in charge of insane men inmates; and will he give instructions that no further attendants are to be recruited to His Majesty's Services until asylum authorities are in a position to replace them by temporary male labour?
§ Mr. BRACEMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. Female nurses are being employed in four of the twenty-four wards for male patients at Wakefield Asylum. Male attendants are also employed in these wards for certain duties. The inmates of the wards in question are all quiet cases which can properly be attended by women—boys, sick cases, or chronic cases of a quiet class. As explained in reply to questions on this subject on 16th September and 22nd December, the employment of female nurses to release men for enlistment is being allowed in suitable cases and under proper safeguards, and this matter is being carefully watched by the Board of Control.