§ 68. Mr. GILBERTasked the Secretary of State for War if women are still employed in Army canteens; if so, can he state approximately the number of women so employed and the reasons for employing them; and will he consider whether this kind of work can be given to disabled ex-service men?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSON (Parliamentary Secretary, War Office)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am informed that the latest figures of employés of the Navy and Army Canteen Board are as follows: Women, 2,644; civilian men, 1,4–79; ex-service men, 1,815. The corresponding figures for 1st April were: Women, 3,118; civilian men, 1,978; ex-service men, 1,649. The policy of giving preference to ex-service men is being pursued by the Board, but in certain departments and as waitresses in the coffee bar trade the work is more suitable for women. I would like to add that the service of women in the work has markedly raised the standards of tone and comfort in the canteens.