11. Mr. BECKETTasked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the total number of women needed for the Army, Navy and Air Force canteens; and what is the present establishment?
78. Mr. BECKETTasked the Minister of Labour how many women have been offered employment at the Army, Navy and Air Force canteens since 1st May, 1926; how many have accepted such employment; how many have refused; how many, after acceptance, have been found unsuitable before engagement; and in how many cases payment has been suspended as a result of such offer?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI have been asked to reply to Question No. 78. The details regarding staff on which information is asked, are matters for the Board of Management of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, and do not come within the purview of the War Office. As regards the last part of Question No. 78, if the reference be to the suspension of unemployment benefit, I understand that statistics are not available in the Ministry of Labour to enable a reply to be furnished.
Mr. BECKETTAre the War Office not represented on the Canteen Committee? If so, is it not possible to get from their representatives the information required, or is it a fact that there is no representation on this Board at all?
§ Colonel Sir ARTHUR HOLBROOKCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Army, Navy and Air Force institute get any indication from the War Office that they should give preference to ex-service men in selecting their staff?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON - EVANSThere are representatives of the Services upon the Board of Management of the institutes, but the Board is an autonomous body and the War Office does not manage their business. The less the War Office interferes the better the business will be managed.
Mr. BECKETTThe right hon. Gentleman has answered Question 78, which is addressed to the Minister of Labour. May I ask how it is that the Ministry of Labour has no knowledge of the people who applied to the Ministry of Labour for staff?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThat question had better be addressed to the Minister of Labour.
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON - EVANSCertainly.