HC Deb 28 September 1944 vol 403 c386
14. Mr. Reakes

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now free married women with children from compulsory part-time work in factories and other essential jobs and replace them by workers, particularly by the older men, now becoming redundant in industry and the Civil Defence services.

Mr. Bevin

Compulsion has never been applied to women with young children of their own under 14 living with them to undertake work. Any such person in employment which she cannot leave without the permission of a National Service Officer is always given permission to leave if the reason for leaving is that she wishes to care for her children.