HC Deb 15 May 1941 vol 371 cc1231-2
2. Miss Cazalet

asked the Minister of Labour the number of Civil servants employed and the number of additional staff engaged to conduct the interviews in connection with the compulsory registration of women?

Mr. Bevin

The interviews of women registered under the Registration for Employment Order are conducted by officers selected from supervisory and managerial grades, in which nearly 1,400 women are employed. On account of the increasing volume of work pertaining to women, including work under the Registration for Employment Order, an additional 500 appointments have been made to these grades during recent months, including nearly 200 temporary appointments.

3. Miss Cazalet

asked the Minister of Labour why the information office at D. H. Evans, Oxford Street, has been closed; and what was the weekly average number of inquiries made by women at this bureau?

Mr. Bevin

The information office which Messrs. D. H. Evans were good enough to allow my Department to open on their premises was closed on 3rd May, 1941, because of a considerable reduction in the number of inquiries after Easter; the weekly number of inquiries ranged from 2,900 in the first week after opening to 590 during the last week.

4. Miss Cazalet

asked the Minister of Labour how many women have registered in the two compulsory registrations; how many it is estimated will be interviewed; and how many interviews have already taken place?

Mr. Bevin

429,820 women born in 1920 have now registered. 281,961 women born in 1919 registered on 3rd May at local offices, but the returns of postal and belated registrations for this age group are not yet complete. The women to be interviewed at once are those not in full-time paid employment, nor in business on their own account, nor in certain other categories, such as women with young children and students. On this basis, it is estimated that approximately 125,000 women are due for interview now. Interviewing began this week, and returns of the numbers interviewed are not yet available.

Miss Cazalet

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman can say when he hopes that the interviews of these first two age groups will be completed?

Mr. Bevin

I am sorry, I cannot give a date.