§ 2. Mr. Dribergasked the Minister of Labour what reply he has given to the request of the Essex police authorities for assistance to find suitable women for the police appointments recently created.
§ Mr. BevinSince the vacancies were notified in Essex, a new arrangement has been made by my Department, whereby vacancies in the Women's Auxiliary Police Corps for women to perform patrol duties are accorded the same priority treatment as vacancies for regular policewomen. This should make some improvement in the recruiting situation in Essex, but it is no easy matter, at this stage of the war, to find suitable women, who are prepared to volunteer for this work and are not engaged on other work from which they cannot be released.
§ Mr. DribergWhile appreciating the force of what the Minister says, may I ask if he is aware that only two or three of these 25 vacancies have been filled, and that women police are very urgently needed in some Essex towns, particularly Chelmsford and Braintree? Could he ask his officers to redouble their efforts?