§ 45. Mr. William Brownasked the Prime Minister whether the Government have now considered the view expressed by the Select Committee on National Expenditure in paragraph 48 of its Third Report, that the question of financial assistance to women workers shortly before, during and after confinement, requires immediate attention; and whether he will introduce emergency legislation to enable women workers to draw unemployment benefit for two months before confinement and for a suitable period thereafter, to be determined on medical advice, in order to safeguard their health and that of their children?
§ The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)Inquiries have been instituted by the Government through a number of sources to ascertain the extent to which women engaged in industry do in fact remain at work to a late stage in pregnancy or return to work too Noon after childbirth. It is anticipated chat these inquiries will be completed in time to enable a full statement to be made as to the information obtained and the Government's decision early in the New Year.