§ 16. Colonel ASHLEYasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the large number of women employed by the Navy and Army Canteen Board on work which would be very suitable for ex-soldiers; and whether, in view of the large number ex-service men who are out of employment, especially in the Aldershot district, and the demand for domestic ser- 2135 vants, he will cause instructions to be issued that women are replaced by ex-service men wherever possible without ,causing undue hardship?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on 19th November last to the hon. Member for Smethwick (Mr. J. E. Davison), in which the matter is very fully dealt with.
§ Colonel ASHLEYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the answer is extremely unsatisfactory, and that nothing practically has been done to replace these women by ex-service men, and what does he propose to do in the matter?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONI cannot agree that the answer was extremely unsatisfactory. I think the answer was a most satisfactory answer, and if the hon. and gallant Member will look at it again I think he will find that the whole case is fully dealt with.
§ Viscount WOLMERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are a great many ex-service men who before the War were employed by Army canteen contractors, and who now find they are unable to get employment with the Navy and Army Canteen Board?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONThat may be so. Preference is given to ex-service men, I believe, in the engagements, but there are certain works connected with the Navy and Army Canteen Board for which women are more suitable, and it is not intended to discharge all the women.
§ Viscount WOLMERDoes the right hon. Gentleman not admit that the Navy and Army Canteen Board, who now hold a Government monopoly, have an obligation to take on those men who were formerly employed by the canteen contractors, and who went to the War, and have now returned to find their livelihood gone?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONI am not aware of any obligation. The Navy and Army Canteen Board is a different organisation from that which existed before the War. If there is such an obligation I shall be glad to consider it.
§ Colonel ASHLEYMay I ask if the Navy and Army Canteen Board is not run by the War Office, and is not the War 2136 Office a Government Department, and have not all Government Departments said they will give preference to ex-service men?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONThe first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question is not correct; it is run by the three Services, and not by one. In regard to the second part, the hon. and gallant Member is correct. Preference is being given to ex-service men so far as is possible.
§ 17. Viscount WOLMERasked the Secretary of State for War if he will state how many women and girls and how many discharged soldiers are employed by the Navy and Army Canteens Board?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONThe number of women and girls and the number of discharged soldiers employed by the Navy and Army Canteen Board in the United Kingdom are approximately:—
| Women and girls | … | 2,843 |
| Discharged soldiers | … | 1,815 |
§ Viscount WOLMERAre we to understand that the Government's idea of giving a preference to discharged soldiers and sailors is to employ twice as many women as discharged soldiers and sailors?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONTo begin with, the Noble Lord's figure is incorrect. There are not twice as many or nearly twice as many women as discharged soldiers and sailors; and in the second place, there must of necessity, and will be, a number of women employed.