§ 77. Mr. Neil Macleanasked the Minister of Labour whether lie is aware that girls in the Govan area of Glasgow have received offers of employment on war work locally, and the firms who have offered the vacancy are told that the girls are only temporary workers, with the result that the firms withdraw the offer, not wishing to train girls who may be withdrawn at any time to go to England; whether any such instruction has been issued by his Department to local exchanges; and, if so, whether he will now withdraw it, so that these girls can be employed locally where such work is offered to them?
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Tomlinson)In certain circumstances, women are available for temporary employment pending transfer and it is my right hon. Friend's policy to encourage such employment to the fullest extent. He cannot, however, allow it to interfere with the necessary arrangements for transfer nor can the exchanges do otherwise than make the position known to employers who wish to employ the girls locally.
§ Mr. MacleanI asked whether the Ministry had issued that instruction to the local exchanges and whether the Minister was aware that when the exchanges are asked to mark a green card with "temporary worker" they refuse to issue the green card at all. Does that not mean that the girls are classified as temporary workers, that no employer will employ them and that they will lose the benefit of their training? Will not the Minister take steps to enable girls to obtain employment in their localities and near to their own homes?
§ Mr. TomlinsonThat question is replied to in the answer which I gave.
§ Mr. MacleanNo, Sir, it is not. The reply states that they are only allowed to take the job temporarily and not on full time.
§ Mr. TomlinsonCertainly, and it is because of the circumstances that the hon. Member related in the last part of his Question that it must remain so.
§ Mr. MacleanOwing to the unsatisfactory reply, I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.