§ 19. Mr. Wootton-Daviesasked the Minister of Labour the nature of any scheme he is proposing to introduce to enable women war-workers to do their shopping after normal hours?
§ Mr. AsshetonEmployers are urged by my right hon. Friend to arrange so that married women workers have reasonable time to do their shopping at convenient hours. Local Officers of the Ministry and of the Ministry of Food have been instructed to arrange for conferences of the different interests concerned in any areas where women workers are encountering special shopping difficulties, so that a local solution can be sought, and the retail distributive trades organisations and the Trades Union Congress General Council have assured my right hon. Friend of their full co-operation in this matter.
§ Sir Herbert WilliamsIs a special effort being made to meet the needs of women who are working in filling factories, many of whom have to travel long distances from their homes?
§ Mr. AsshetonI appreciate that point fully, and it is one of the matters which are being discussed.
Miss CazaletDoes the hon. Member know in what percentage of cases arrangements have already been made?
§ Mr. AsshetonNo, I am afraid I have not got that information.
§ Mr. LeslieWill care be exercised to see that in consequence long hours are not imposed upon women shop assistants?
§ Mr. AsshetonThat is one of the points which have to be taken into account.