§ 1. Mr. LONGDENasked the Minister of Labour whether, seeing that free travelling warrants are issued to boys under the age of 18 on being transferred from distressed areas to industrial and domestic employment, whereas girls receive free railway vouchers from the Lord Mayor's Fund on being transferred to industrial employment, but not when they are going to domestic service, she will consider placing the girls on the same footing as the boys; and whether she has received representations from the Birmingham Juvenile Welfare Subcommittee asking her to end this anomaly?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Miss Bondfield)Representations on this point have been made by the Birmingham Juvenile Welfare Sub-Committee. I have given careful consideration to the matter, but I see no reason for transferring to public funds the responsibility for the cost of travelling expenses which 1548 by long-standing custom has been paid or advanced by the employer. The experience of my Department is that there is no difficulty about the railway fare of any woman or girl travelling to a distance to take up resident domestic service.
§ 13. Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Labour if she is receiving assistance from both organisations of employers and trades unions in her efforts to widen and increase the usefulness of the transfer of labour scheme?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe industrial transference scheme has been carried out by the ordinary placing machinery of the Employment Exchanges, with which committees representative of employers and workpeople are associated, and it has not been found necessary to make any general approach in the matter to employers' organisations or trade unions.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Lady having sympathetic help from associations both of employers and employed in this matter?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI have no complaint to make about the general attitude of the organisations.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSAre they enthusiastic about it?