§ 27. Major-General Sir Alfred Knoxasked the Minister of Labour whether in view of the difficulty industrial concerns experience in finding personnel to carry on the work in their canteens and of the necessity for providing as many workers as possible with meals in these canteens, owing to the distance from their homes, he will provide labour from men and women called up for National Service?
§ Mr. BevinEmployment in canteens in works doing essential war work is already one which women, and, to a smaller extent, men may be asked to take when they are called up for national service.
§ Sir A. KnoxAs regards the other firms which are not doing non-essential work, but are doing work which is really necessary for the war effort, can the right hon. Gentleman see his way to help them to get employees for the canteens?
§ Mr. GranvilleWill the right hon. Gentleman direct his attention to the canteens at Slough and in that district, where they are extremely short of personnel?
§ Mr. BevinI will look into the matter. One of the difficulties about this class of work is that there are no regulated conditions, no rates for the job, and it is in a chaotic condition. It is difficult for me to direct people where I cannot tell them what they are going to get.
§ Sir A. KnoxThese people at Slough work at a great distance from their homes, and it is important that they should get their meals.