HC Deb 06 August 1942 vol 382 cc1162-3
10. Major Lyons

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give particulars of the retail distributive trades sub-committee before which, in London, female persons are called for interview; by whom were the members nominated; is there any different composition for different employments; and the nature of discretion and function of such committee?

Mr. Bevin

Retail distributive trades sub-committees, which are sub-committees of the local employment committees and have been set up at each employment exchange throughout the country, are composed of not more than three employers' and three workers' representatives from the retail distributive trades, other than food, under an independent chairman. The employers' representatives are drawn from a panel nominated by local traders' organizations and upon which the different sections of retail trade are represented, while the representatives of the workers are nominated by the workers' side of the Central Advisory Panel for the Retail Distributive Trades. The functions of these committees are to make recommendations about women claimed as pivotal workers whom they may, at their discretion, interview and to advise generally on local labour supply problems in the trades concerned.

Major Lyons

Is there the same constitution of these committees for consideration of cases of all retail trades, and what is the number of persons necessary to form a quorum, or must all the members be present to reach a decision?

Mr. Bevin

I cannot answer those questions without notice.