HC Deb 28 October 1943 vol 393 cc365-6
34. Mr. Mander

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will give consideration to the question of giving financial assistance for the provision of uniforms for the G.T.C. in view of the difficulty now being experienced in this connection and the valuable services being rendered?

Mr. Butler

I am well aware of these difficulties. They are the same for all voluntary organisations the members of which are not given financial assistance for their personal equipment.

Mr. Mander

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the strong feeling on this subject all over the country, and cannot he do something, as the President of the Board of Trade is unable to do anything and has referred us to him?

Mrs. Tate

And is the right hon. Gentleman also aware that this is one of the very few really constructive efforts to help girls who are exposed to-day to exceptional temptations and that it is absolute folly for the Government not to give this justifiable concession?

Mrs. Cazalet Keir

Is it not a fact that the Girls' Training Corps is in a different position from that of other voluntary organisations, seeing that it was set up by a Government Department and the other organisations were not?

Mr. Butler

I certainly cannot accept the view of the hon. Lady. This organisation owes a great deal, it is true, to the Government, and it is doing most excellent work for girls, and I very much regret that it is not possible to make this concession. Nobody would be keener than I to make it, were it possible.