HC Deb 28 March 1946 vol 421 cc567-8
52. Mr. Douģlas Marshall

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the coming holiday season in Cornwall and the wish to provide our hardworked people with a good holiday, he will assist the laundries in order that they can meet the holiday demands.

Mr. Isaacs

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Finchley (Captain Crowder) on 28th February. The labour needs of laundries in holiday resorts and elsewhere are having the continual attention of my Department.

Mr. Marshall

Is the Minister aware that, if he does not do something in this connection, it will be utterly impossible for these laundries to cater adequately for visitors in the coming season?

Mr. Isaacs

Yes, Sir, but perhaps the laundries can do something themselves. My information is that many of the women working in laundries in the seaside resorts were women who went there from London for the season and that this arrangement is now impracticable owing to shortage of accommodation, the low rate of wages and the general unpopularity of the work.

Mr. Robens

Is not the Minister aware that if the employers' associations would pay decent wages and give decent conditions they would have no difficulty in getting laundry workers?

Winģ-Commander Millington

Is my right. hon. Friend aware that the real purpose of this Question is, in fact, to ask him to spend his Eeaster recess working in a laundry?

Mr. Isaacs

If that is the request, I can give notice quite definitely now that I am not accepting the invitation.

Mr. Skeffinģton-Lodģe

Would not a solution of the problem be for holidaymakers either to do their own washing or to bring their dirty clothes home with them?