HC Deb 20 January 1944 vol 396 cc340-1
16. Mrs. Cazalet Keir

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any further information to give the House as to the progress of his plans for supplying domestic labour to hospitals and other similar services.

Mr. Bevin

I have found it necessary to give first priority to domestic work in connection with the care of the sick and wounded, the old and infirm and young children. I attach the highest importance to domestic work which is essential to the efficiency of these services, and I am instructing my local offices to pay special attention to the filling of vacancies in this work. I am glad to be able to announce that the Advisory Committee, whose appointment I foreshadowed recently, has now been formed, under the chairmanship of my hon. Friend, the Joint Parliamentary Secretary, and has already held its first meeting. I will circulate a list of its members in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Sorensen

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that in many hospitals, through the dearth of domestic servants, a great deal of the work which is usually performed by them is being done by nurses, which in some cases is leading to a serious breakdown?

Mr. Bevin

Yes, Sir, I appreciate the difficulty but I am very short of staff everywhere.

Following is the list:

STANDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON INSTITUTIONAL DOMESTIC EMPLOYMENT.

Chairman: Mr. M. S. McCorquodale, M.P.

Vice-Chairman: Miss Violet Markham, C.H., LL.D., D.Litt., J.P.

Mr. F. Barraclough, M.A.

Captain H. Brierley, O.B.E., M.C., F.H.O.A.

Mrs. E. J. Davies.

Mrs. I. K. Bowman Edgar.

Mr. J. B. Frizell, B.L., A.L.A.A.

Mrs. K. M. Goldney, S.C.M.

Dr. F. Hall, C.B.E., M.D., D.P.H., Barrister-at-Law.

Miss Florence Hancock, O.B.E.

Mrs. M. A. Hill.

Mrs. Montagu Norman.

Mrs. M. Parry, M.B.E., J.P.

Miss O. M. Snowden, O.B.E., S.R.N.

Miss E. M. A. Wilson.