§ 6. Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that factories in Ayrshire, formerly manufacturing lace but now devoting their resources to machining tank and aeroplane parts, are being told by employment exchange man- 1160 agers that all their mobile girls will be sent away from home to work in England; and whether he will issue orders without delay to prevent this transfer of Scottish girls against their will, interfering with war production in Scotland, and to relieve the bitter feeling caused both to the girls and their parents?
§ Mr. BevinWomen are not being withdrawn from munitions work in Ayrshire, but those who are released as the result of the concentration of certain sections of the lace industry will be considered for transfer in the ordinary way to areas where the shortage of labour is most acute.
§ Mr. KirkwoodIs the Minister aware that I have received many letters from mothers and girls as well as from employers? Is he aware that an employer has written to me saying:
Scottish employers are simply wild that their urgent needs apparently should be ignored in this light fashion by Mr. Bevin, and a very awkward situation is being created which may be difficult to control"?Has he anything to reply to that?
§ Mr. KirkwoodThat is rather offhand.