HC Deb 15 March 1951 vol 485 cc1754-5
44. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Minister of Labour how many German girls and women have been recruited for work in this country under the North Sea scheme; approximately how many of these are respectively farm workers, nurses and factory workers; what are their terms of contract; under what circumstances they can transfer to other employment; and whether they will now be given permission to transfer from one area to another.

Mr. Bevan

Under this scheme 6,400 women were recruited for domestic work in hospitals, institutions or private households; 1,600 for nursing; and 1,600 for hosiery, textile and other industries—a total of 9,600. They undertook to enter specified employment and not to leave it without the consent of my Department. Applications for transfer from one employment to another, or from one area to another, are considered in the light of individual circumstances.

Mr. Sorensen

Does this scheme mean that they can come here for a set period, such as two years, and, if so, is it possible, when the two years are finished for those who have been recruited to have a certain amount of facility to move into some other industry in some other part of the country?

Mr. Bevan

I think my hon. Friend will find that if they have been in this specified employment for two years it is much easier to get transferred, but it is not, of course, always automatic.