§ 5. Major Lyonsasked the Minister of Labour whether he has yet taken, or proposes to take, any power of compulsion for the recruitment of women for any form of national service?
§ Mr. BevinMy powers under the Defence Regulations with regard to directing persons to employment apply equally to women as to men.
§ Major LyonsIs it not a fact that no such power has ever yet been taken in relation to the recruitment of women for any form of national service at all, and 1878 that the right hon. Gentleman has been content to rely upon advertisements, speeches and platform oratory for recruits?
§ Mr. BevinThat is not correct. Women have been directed to work when they have registered, and I have not relied exclusively upon appeals. But as this is a free country, I am going to preserve the freedom of the country to the best of my ability.
§ Major LyonsDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that we want to have this information for the purpose of seeing how far women can be taken into the national service, as was stated in another place yesterday?
§ Mr. BevinWomen are being transferred to industry in order to release manpower, and they are responding extremely well. I am not prepared to submit to the pressure put upon me to adopt ruthless methods if I can get results by the voluntary acquiescence of the women concerned.
§ Mr. Rhys DaviesWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that while some Members of Parliament want him to use compulsion, a number of the women object to being compelled?
§ 7. Sir George Broadbridgeasked the Minister of Labour how many women have registered to date for national service; and how many have been utilised?
§ Mr. BevinI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for East Islington (Miss Cazalet) on 16th October, 1941.