HC Deb 02 October 1941 vol 374 c691
12. Mr. Brooke

asked the Minister of Labour his policy with regard to the transference of domestic staffs to war work; and, in particular, whether it is his intention that women, engaged on work of public importance, shall be compelled to give it up through being entirely deprived of domestic help at home, if their staffs happen to be young, while people still employing excessive domestic staffs consisting of older persons can retain them all?

Mr. Bevin

Generally speaking, no woman in the registered age groups, engaged in domestic service, will be required to transfer to other employment if she can be shown to be essential to the household. Women in the older age groups will be dealt with in the same way when they are registered.