19. Miss Lloyd Georgeasked the Minister of Labour whether he contemplates any further immediate steps with regard to the control of labour for the war industries?
§ Mr. BevinYes, Sir; in view of the necessity of ensuring that all persons are employed where most needed in the national interest, I have decided that 594 the following steps for the further control of the movement of labour must be taken immediately:
- 1. The amendment of the Employment of Women (Control of Engagement) Order so as to include women up to age 40; hitherto the Order has included women up to age 30. The effect of this will be that, with certain exceptions, all vacancies for women between the ages of 18 and 40 inclusive, will be able to be filled only through the Employment Exchanges.
- 2. The making of an Order requiring employers to notify my Department, where this is not already done, of the termination of employment of certain, classes of their employees, in order to prevent the loss of their services to essential war work. It has been found that when workpeople leave their jobs without the knowledge of my Department it is impossible to ensure that their services are used to the best advantage for the purposes of the war effort.
- 3. A wider use where necessary of the powers of direction under Defence Regulation 59A to non-scheduled work, including part-time work. At the same time an Order will be made safeguarding the conditions of employment of persons who are directed to such work. These arrangements are required owing to the necessity of transferring large numbers of persons to work not covered by the Essential Work Orders including in particular part-time work, in order to make the fullest use of our man-and-woman power.
§ Mr. ThorneWhat method does my right hon. Friend adopt to find out whether a man or woman gives the true age?
§ Mr. DribergDoes the last part of the answer of the right hon. Gentleman mean, broadly speaking, compulsory part-time work for the majority of married women?