§ 15. Mr. OSWALD LEWISasked the Minister of Labour the number of women who are at present undergoing training for domestic service under the schemes to relieve unemployment?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe number of girls and women now in training at the home training centres administered by the Central Committee on Women's Training and Employment with a view to entering domestic service, is about 1,000, equivalent approximately to 3,500 in the course of a year.
§ Mr. LEWISHaving regard to the fact that this is one of the occupations in which the demand for labour exceeds the supply, cannot the right hon. Lady hold out some hope that she can get an increase of these numbers shortly?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe Women's Committee is only too anxious to put centres where possible.
§ Mr. ALPASSIs it not a fact that the demand exceeds the supply because of the intolerable conditions in domestic service?
§ 22. Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEasked the Minister of Labour if her attention has been called to the shortage of cooks and other classes of domestic servants in this country; and if, in view of the increase of unemployment, she will say what measures are being taken to meet the demand?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI am aware of the opportunities of employment offered ay domestic service. Apart from the facilities offered by the Employment Exchanges the action taken to increase the supply consists of special training centres. There are 32 centres at present open, and the Central Committee on Women's Training and Employment are prepared to establish further training centres to the extent to which circumstances justify it.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGECan the right hon. Lady say whether the efforts to meet the shortage of cooks have been successful? Slit has given a general statement, but can she give me definite statistics to show whether she has placed any cooks in situations?
§ Miss BONDFIELDOh, these girls are eagerly snapped up as soon as they have finished their training.
§ Mr. GILLIs the right hon. Lady prepared to give some guarantee that the girls trained under this scheme will go to homes where decent conditions prevail?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI am happy to say that great cafe is taken by the superintendents of these centres to try to follow up these girls, and I think the fact of the girls passing through these centres is having its effect upon conditions.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWill the right hon. Lady see that employers produce a character, seeing that they ask for characters from the girls?
§ Mr. CLARKEIs the Minister prepared to appoint a special Exchange for domestic servants?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI thank the hon. Member for the suggestion, and I will certainly give it my careful consideration.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODI would like a reply to my question. [Laughter.]
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member ought to put the question down.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODThis is no laughing matter to me. These people are of my class. It used to be done.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe question really does not arise directly out of the answer.
§ Mr. KELLYIs it not a fact that prior to the War references had to be given by employers in many cases?