HC Deb 12 March 1940 vol 358 cc973-4
5. Brigadier-General Spears

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that certain classes of women, such as cooks, kitchenmaids, etc., for whom the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes are advertising in the public Press, are paid at higher rates than those obtainable by women doing similar work for the Auxiliary Territorial Service; and whether, as that service is trying to recruit many thousands of women, he will obtain co-ordination between this body and the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes to avoid competition between them and the discouragement of women from joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service, due to their being able to obtain higher rates of pay with the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes?

Mr. Stanley

The rates of pay of members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service employed as cooks or kitchenmaids do not compare unfavourably with those of women employed on similar duties by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, regard being bad to increases in pay which higher rank carries with it in the former, and to other benefits. According to the information at my disposal, the emoluments offered by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes do not discourage women from joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service, and no difficulty is being experienced in recruiting capable women cooks and kitchen-maids.