HC Deb 13 February 1948 vol 447 cc755-6

Women who join the forces under this Act shall be entitled to resign from the Forces on giving twenty-eight days' notice.—[Mr. Emrys Hughes.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

I beg to move, "That the Clause be read a Second time."

It has been said that one volunteer is worth ten pressed men, and that should also apply to women. If a woman goes into the W.R.A.C. and, after experience, she decides that it is not her career, she should have the same opportunity of leaving the Service as exists in any other Service. Officers have the right to leave on 28 days' notice, and it is reasonable that a woman should have the same right so that she may take up civilian employment.

Mr. Shinwell

I want to correct one observation which my hon. Friend made. It is not open to officers to resign on giving 28 days' notice. It is a much more difficult proposition than that. As to the substance of my hon. Friend's proposition, it is undesirable to treat women differently from men as regards their discharge. It would be most unfair and inequitable if we allowed women to retire on giving a few days' notice—

Mr. Hughes

I think the men should be able to retire too.

Mr. Shinwell

—whereas men are compelled to remain in the Service. My hon. Friend has given the whole of his case away. He has just interjected that he believes men should retire if they give 28 days' notice. We simply cannot have an Army or Air Force on that basis. I understand my hon. Friend does not want them, anyway. I must point out that in addition to the principle enunciated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence the other day, in respect of discharge by purchase—we merely postulate the principle; we have not gone further than that at the moment, although we shall in due course—women can be discharged, as can men, on compassionate grounds. On marriage in particular, a woman would be given the option of taking her discharge or continuing in the Service. In all the circumstances, the women will not regard themselves as ill-treated, and I hope with that explanation my hon. Friend will not press this Clause.

Mr. Hughes

The Secretary of State is getting more reasonable as we go on. He is much more reasonable than he was, but he will not always hold his present office. Under this Bill we are giving powers to people who may not share the enlightened view of my right hon. Friend, and I submit that out of all the Amendments which he has rejected, he might accept this reasonably little one.

Question, "That the Clause be read a Second time" put, and negatived.

Bill reported, with an Amendment; as amended, considered; read the Third time and passed.