§ 1. Mr. Storeyasked the Minister of Labour how many State certified midwives have been drafted into the Forces or directed to industry and are not now practising the work for which they have been specially trained.
§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ernest Bevin)No State certified midwives have been withdrawn from the practice of their profession and drafted compulsorily into the Services, or directed into industry. On the contrary, special steps have been taken, including the release of women with midwifery qualifications and experience from industrial nursing, to ensure that such women do, so far as practicable, make use of their special qualifications. In this connection I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given him by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Health on 14th December.
§ Mr. StoreyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a very grave shortage of midwives in the North of England and that at least one maternity nursing home is likely to close down unless it can find the necessary staff?
Mr. BainI am well aware that there is a great shortage of nurses throughout the whole country, but I would ask my hon. Friend to appreciate that I cannot make good, in a war, the neglect of this profession for years before the war.