§ 5. Mr. Lipsonasked the Minister of Labour whether it is his policy to regard domestic work in hospitals and sanatoria as an essential service; and will he direct women who are called up to this work, so that all the beds in these institutions may be available to those who need them?
§ Mr. BevinI am glad to have the opportunity of emphasising that domestic work in hospitals and similar institutions is regarded as vital war work for women of all ages. As I recently announced to the House, I am proposing to make a wider use of the power of direction to unscheduled work, and the needs of domestic work in hospitals are receiving urgent consideration in this connection.
§ Mr. LipsonDoes the right hon. Gentleman propose to use those wide powers immediately?