§ 9. Sir Herbert Williamsasked the Minister of Labour why the number of accidents in the metal and engineering industries as between 1938 and 1943 has shown an increase at least 10 times as great as the proportionate increase in the number of women employed in those industries.
§ Mr. BevinI am afraid I do not follow the calculations in the Question, but I am advised that, in spite of counter-measures, the number of accidents to women in these industries would naturally be expected to increase under war conditions by a substantially greater percentage than the percentage increase in the numbers of women employed, owing to a combination of accident-producing factors, such as have been referred to in the annual reports of the Chief Inspector. I am glad, however, to say that, as mentioned in the Report for 1943, there was in that year a fall in the accident rate for women employed in those munition industries which are the chief sources of accidents to women.
§ Sir H. WilliamsHas not my right hon. Friend seen the figures published in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" this month, on which this Question is based?
§ Mr. Ellis SmithDoes my right hon. Friend agree that these figures are a reflection of the magnificent war effort of the women in the British engineering industry, and that some people in this House opposed the mobilisation of women at the time?