§ 9. Mrs. Castleasked the Minister of Transport whether, in considering further appointments to the Hotels Executive, he will bear in mind that there are a number of women with qualifications and experience in the catering field, and include one of them among his appointments to that Executive.
§ 13. Mrs. Leah Manningasked the Minister of Transport if he has yet constituted 3 his Transport Users Council and his Hotels Executive; and what provision he has made for the inclusion of women on these boards.
§ Mr. BarnesI hope shortly to be in a position to appoint the Hotels Executive and the Central Transport Consultative Committee for Great Britain. In making appointments to those bodies I shall consider both men and women who have the requisite qualifications and experience.
§ Mrs. CastleIs my right hon. Friend aware that immediate improvements could be made in railway hotels, railway meals and catering facilities generally if women's skill, common sense and training in this respect could be brought into use? Will the Minister give an assurance that he will see that the usual prejudices do not operate in this matter to the detriment of the travelling public?
§ Mr. BarnesI am very much aware of the necessity for these improvements and I can assure my hon. Friend that I suffer from no prejudices in the direction which she has indicated.
§ Mrs. Florence PatonIs the Minister aware that in the Women's Traffic Club of Great Britain there are a number of highly skilled women executives dealing with all forms of transport, and will he pass this information to the Transport Commission so that when they are setting up their area and district organisations they can bear it in mind?
§ Mr. BarnesThat appears to me rather to raise the question of operation, which is another issue. My hon. Friend's question deals with appointments, in connection with which I am responsible. I gather that the supplementary question raises the question of operation; if so, that is a matter for the Commission.