§ 18. Sir T. Mooreasked the Minister of Labour whether a survey has yet been completed or undertaken of women in the Services, so as to ascertain whether they are fully and usefully employed; and, if so, with what result?
§ Mr. BevinThe efficient use of women allocated to the Women's Auxiliary Services is primarily a matter for my right hon. Friends the Service Ministers. A joint inquiry into the use of Service women in static establishments, and their replacement, as far as possible, by immobile civilian labour, on a whole or part-time basis, was conducted early this year by 1271 my Department and the three Service Departments, with useful results.
§ Sir T. MooreIn view of the many cases of wastage of labour in the Services which are brought to the notice of Members of Parliament, will my right hon. Friend try to maintain a fair balance between the requirements of the civil population and the demands of the Service Ministries?
§ Mr. BevinAs is the case with all armies, I have to keep people who sometimes are not fully engaged as fighting units. But the day will come very soon when there will be none idle.
§ Sir I. AlberyCan the right hon. Gentleman give some idea of how much usefulness resulted from that review?