HC Deb 17 November 1942 vol 385 cc181-3
32. Mrs. Cazalet Keir

asked the Secretary of State for War which of the recommendations of the Women's Services Welfare and Amenities Committee have been accepted by his Department?

Sir J. Grigg

As the answer consists of a series of figures, I am circulating a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mrs. Keir

Will my right hon. Friend state how many recommendations have been accepted?

Sir J. Grigg

As far as the War Office are concerned, 28 out of a total of 44; not all of these concern the War Office.

Following is the statement:

Of the 44 recommendations in the Report of the Committee on Amenities and Welfare Conditions in the Three Women's Services, the following have been accepted: Nos. 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 22, 23, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, The following have been partially accepted: Nos. 2, 6, 7, 9, 15. Seven of the recommendations are outside the purview of the War Office.

68. Mrs. Keir

asked the Secretary of State for Air which of the recommendations of the Women's. Services Welfare and Amenities Committee have been accepted by his Department?

The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Captain Harold Balfour)

With my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mrs. Keir

How many of the recommendations have been accepted by the Department?

Captain Balfour

Eleven have been adopted, 27 have been accepted in principle, and four do not concern my Department.

Following is the statement:

Recommendations. Nos. 2, 3, 4, 8, 11, 12, 18, 19, 29, 33 and 41 have already been adopted. Nos. 1, 5, 6, 7 (officers only), 9, 10, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43 and 44 have been accepted in principle. Nos. 13, 14, 15 and 27 do not concern my Department.

69. Mrs. Keir

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty which of the recommendations of the Women's Services Welfare and Amenities Committee have been accepted by his Department?

The Civil Lord of the Admiralty (Captain Pilkington)

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of nine recommendations made by the Committee on Amenities and Welfare Conditions in the Women's Services which were either in force in the W.R.N.S. before the Committee's Report was issued or have since been accepted in so far as the W.R.N.S. is concerned. With regard to recommendation No. 5, the training of Administrative Officers has been extended by one week and it is now under consideration to extend the general Officers' Training Course by at least a similar period. The remaining recommendations which affect the W.R.N.S. are still under consideration.

Mr. De la Bère

Is my hon. and gallant Friend aware that it would be a very good thing if the remaining recommendations were got on with without delay, because they are extremely good and reported to be the best that have been made in the Services throughout the war?

Captain Pilkington

I can assure my hon. Friend that there will be no undue delay in the further consideration of the remaining recommendations.

Mr. De la Bère

Yes, but the Admiralty sometimes wants a little acceleration.

Captain Pilkington

Very seldom.

Following is the list referred to:

Recommendations of the Committee on Amenities and Welfare Conditions in the Women's Services which were already in force or have been accepted,
No. Title.
2.— Recruitment of officers.
3.— Allocation of officers.
10.— Use of immobile women, etc.
11.— Posting arrangements.
12.— Instruction for new recruits.
36.— Amenities for remote sites, etc.
37.— Provision of quiet rooms.
38.— Railway station accommodation.
41.— Wearing of Service shoes.

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