HC Deb 28 May 1919 vol 116 cc1196-7
27. Captain LOSEBY

asked the Minister of Labour if under the proposed scheme for the free training of unemployed women applicants have been informed that wives and fiancées can only be trained in domestic work, and that training for factories and workshops is confined to young registered unemployed women; and it he will state why fiancées, whose position may be precarious, should be penalised?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY Of LABOUR (Mr. Wardle)

The hon. and gallant Member is misinformed. There is no intention of confining the training of wives and fiancées to domestic work. The special scheme for wives and fiancées is intended to apply to those women who do not wish to enter industrial life, but who wish shortly to set up a home of their own.

I am considering whether this special scheme should be continued, and whether the time has not now come to merge these two schemes into one general scheme which would apply to all young women who were employed on war work and are now unemployed.

Captain LOSEBY

At what period of the walking out proceedings does one become a fiancée? And what happens if, in the middle of the training, the contract is terminated?

Mr. WARDLE

I must ask for notice of that question.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir F. HALL

What will be construed as a precarious position by the Government? Mr. WARDLE: That is a hypothetical question.