HC Deb 03 February 1942 vol 377 cc1040-2
43. Miss Cazalet

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider setting up a committee to inquire into the conditions of the Auxiliary Territorial Service and the other women's Services?

Mr. Attlee

A Committee, under the Chairmanship of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty and with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for War, my hon. Friend the Member for Altrincham (Sir E. Grigg), the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Air, my right hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Isle of Thanet (Captain Balfour), and the Parliamentary Secretary, Minister of Labour, my hon. Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Assheton), as members, has been set up to consider and report to the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Secretary of State for War, the Secretary of State for Air and the Minister of Labour and National Service, on the standards of amenities and welfare conditions in the three Women's Services.

The Committee will, in the course of its consideration of these questions, receive the advice of the Directors of the W.R.N.S., A.T.S. and the W.A.A.F. and these Directors will attend the meetings of the Committee as may be required. These Directors will investigate and report upon the comparative conditions of accommodation, issues of clothing and equipment and other matters affecting the well-being of the Services, and will present their conclusions and any suggestions to the above Committee. In addition, the Committee have expressed their willingness to receive representations and views on any questions affecting welfare from the Women's Consultative Committee, which advises the Minister of Labour on all questions relating to the recruitment of women.

Miss Cazalet

Does not my right hon. Friend think it would be a good thing if some responsible women were co-opted to the Committee?

Mr. Garro Jones

Is it not rather an odd and unusual procedure to appoint a Committee of Parliamentary Under-Secretaries? How are they going to find time from their other duties to attend the Committee?

Mr. Attlee

I do not think it is unusual.

Sir Percy Harris

Will evidence be given before the Committee from outside people, or will it be limited to official evidence?

Mr. Attlee

That is a matter for the Committee.

Miss Eleanor Rathbone

Will the husbands and parents of these young people be reassured by a report from four young men in high positions?

Miss Ward

Will the representatives of the Services be full members of the Committee and will they sit with the Committee on every occasion?

Mr. Attlee

As I pointed out, the Committee will seek the advice of the directors, and they will attend the meetings of the Committee as required. That does not mean they are full members of the Committee.

Miss Cazalet

Does my right hon. Friend think it would be a good thing to set up an all-women committee to inquire into conditions in the male Services?

Mr. G. Strauss

Is it not really a mistake to have an investigation into the conditions in these Services by the people responsible for those conditions?

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

As these matters are of great interest to the community, may the report of the Committee be published?

Mr. Attlee

That is a matter for the Committee.

Miss Rathbone

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise this question on the Adjournment.