§ 22. Major HILLSasked the Minister of Munitions whether he has appointed any women members on the Munitions Demobilisation Board; and, if not, will he consider the necessity of doing so, in view of the many women to be demobilised and of the effect which demobilisation will have on women's industrial future?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe main duties of the Demobilisation Board of the Ministry of Munitions are to wind up the financial and contractual obligations of the Ministry, to take executive action in connection with the control of materials so long as such control is needed, and to assist firms who have been engaged in the manufacture of munitions to turn over as rapidly as possible to peace production. As my right hon. and gallant Friend is 3180 aware, the greater portion of the staff of the Labour Department of the Ministry of Munitions has recently been transferred to the Ministry of Labour, to form part of the Demobilisation and Resettlement Department of that Ministry. In matters affecting the discharge of workpeople from munition factories, the Demobilisation Board will work in the closest possible co-operation with the Ministry of Labour. As, under this arrangement, the Minister of Munitions is not directly responsible for the demobilisation and resettlement of civil war workers, and also, in view of the fact that the duties of the Demobilisation Board of the Ministry of Munitions will be largely of a financial and technical nature, my right hon. Friend does not consider the appointment of women members necessary.