§ 34. Mr. GRUNDYasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that on 2032 both the women's sub-committees and the main committee attached to the Richmond Employment Exchange there are only two women members, whereas on the former committee there are four men members; whether there is only one woman representing women workers; whether he is aware that, owing to the small number of women on the committee, recent action by the committee directed against his women staff at Kew was decided on in the absence of women members; whether unemployed women are ever put in the position of being dealt with by the councillor who has recently shown himself to be hostile to the employment of women; and whether efforts will now be made to add to the women membership of the committees concerned, with a view to the proper representation of women workers resident in the area?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThere is one woman member, a workers' representative, on the main committee. The women's subcommittee consists at present of three men members and two women members, one of whom is a workers' representative, and there is one vacancy for a woman for which a nomination from a workers' association has been invited. I am not aware that the representations recently made by the committee regarding the employment of women staff at the Claims and Record Office, Kew, were in any way influenced by the composition of the committee, nor can I accept the suggestion that any member of the Committee ought to be excluded from dealing with claims made by unemployed women.
§ Mr. W. THORNECan the right hon. Gentleman state from what organisations have nominations been asked, and has he received any nominations up to the present?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI cannot answer that question without notice. My hon. Friend knows it is difficult to decide, but we endeavour to consult the representative organisations in cases of this kind.