HC Deb 10 May 1951 vol 487 cc2123-4
1. Mr. Vane

asked the Minister of Labour how many training centres have been set up under the National Institute of Houseworkers; what is the total cost to date; how many persons have been awarded certificates of competence in domestic work; and how many such persons are still believed to be in paid employment as domestic workers.

The Minister of Labour (Mr. Robens)

The National Institute of Houseworkers runs nine training centres, and has spent about £100,000 in acquiring and equipping them. The cost of running training centres, including the payment of maintenance allowances to the trainees, from 1946 up to the end of March, 1951, was £200,000. The average cost of a training course is about £200. The diploma of the Institute has been awarded to 1,676 persons. Exact statistics are not available as to the number of these who are still in domestic work, but the indications are that it is about 75 per cent. of the total.

Mr. Vane

Is it possible to obtain this diploma without attending a resident course, and how long does the course take? Has it ever been considered that any of these centres might be run in close conjunction with or actually by a voluntary body, such as the W.V.S., to compare whether greater efficiency and economy could be obtained thereby?

Mr. Robens

I assure the hon. Member that the courses are run with the utmost economy and that the results have been very well worth while. The length of time the girls are at the training centres varies a little; it is not a long training. By and large, it has raised the status of domestic workers very considerably.

Miss Irene Ward

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, on the whole, women are very well satisfied with the result of this experiment? Is he also aware that we think it would be most regrettable if it were curtailed until we are in a position to judge fully whether, it is justified?

Mr. Robens

I am sure the hon. Member for Westmorland (Mr. Vane) was not suggesting that it should be curtailed, but was wanting some information, which it is right that he should have. I opened the first conference of the Institute, and I was much impressed by their very high standard.