§ 5. Lieut.-Commander Joynson-Hicksasked the Minister of Labour how many women he has directed into the W.L.A. from civil employment; and what steps are proposed to assist them to rehabilitate themselves in their former professions when released from the W.L.A.
§ Mr. BevinNo women have been directed into the Women's Land Army. Members will be eligible to apply for grants under the Further Education and Training Scheme applicable to training for the professions and higher-grade posts, and for training under the training scheme set out in the statement made in the House on 6th April, 1944. I am sending the hon. Member papers in which these Schemes are described.
§ Lieut. - Commander Joynson - HicksWhile appreciating the Minister's reply, may I ask if he realises that many of these women who have been working in the roughest weather and under the hardest conditions will require rehabilitation before they can take up their professions again?
§ Mr. BevinThe question of how the Land Army shall be treated is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, but I would point out that women have been directed to many other very difficult jobs, and the question you have to decide is whether you will make an exception in one case and ignore all the others who have suffered inconvenience.
§ Mr. Henderson StewartDo the schemes to which my right hon. Friend has referred as being available to the Land Army, include entry into the Civil Service under the scheme recently announced?