§ 33. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for War the number of girls under 20 years of age who were recruited to the Women's Royal Army Corps in 1953 and 1954, respectively; the number who were discharged in each of those years before completing their service; and the number who were reported absent without leave for a month or more in each of those years.
§ Mr. HeadFigures for the first eight months of 1953 are not available. Four hundred and seventy-two girls under twenty years of age were recruited in the last four months of 1953 and the number recruited during the whole of 1954 was 1,564. Sixty-two of the girls enlisted during the last four months of 1953 were discharged before completing their service and 395 of those enlisted in 1954. Of the 2,036 girls enlisted in these two periods, thirteen have been absent for one month or more during their service.
§ 34. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for War what steps are taken by his Department to look after the moral well-being of young girls recruited to the Women's Royal Army Corps; and what steps are taken to notify parents when anxiety is aroused concerning their moral conduct.
§ Mr. HeadRecreational activities and amenities, such as organised games, libraries, television, unit concerts and choirs, etc., are available in all units. Padres' hours and education classes are regularly held. Weekly request hours are held by unit commanders and regimental officers are available for interviews as and when required.
Contact with parents is encouraged by means of Parent Days and correspondence.
§ Mr. ThomasCan the Minister assure the House that if there are signs of trouble developing the parents are kept informed?
§ Mr. HeadYes, Sir. The hon. Member will understand that we have a problem here; perhaps I can discuss it with the hon. Member.
§ 35. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for War why he refuses to tell parents the whereabouts of their daughters who are serving in the Women's Royal Army Corps even when these people are under 21 years of age.
§ Mr. HeadWhen a parent writes to the War Office for information we invariably notify the girl's commanding officer, who will do everything she can to persuade her to get in touch with her parents. The commanding officer herself would do everything possible to bring parents and daughter together.
§ Mr. ThomasDoes the Minister not think that he is taking a lot upon himself by denying a mother the right to know where her daughter is when she is under the age of 21? Does he not think that even the War Office has no right to offend against these family obligations and relationships, and that he is asking for trouble by refusing to give details of this sort?
§ Mr. HeadIt is not quite as simple as that. The hon. Member must appreciate that there are girls who join up to get away from a bad home. If we make a statutory undertaking that in all cases we must put the parents in touch with the girl we may be acting against the interests of the individual concerned. What we do is to use our common sense. Where we find that there are good parents and their influence is good, we do not stand in the way of the girls getting in touch with them.
§ Mr. ThomasHow does the Minister decide what is a good home and what is a bad home? Is he saying that the Secretary of State for War knows better than parents what is good for girls under 21?
§ Mr. HeadI am saying nothing of the sort. What I am saying is that the commanding officer of the girl's unit will get in touch with the girl and find out her background and problems. If she says she has a bad home and joined the W.R.A.C. because she does not want to see her parents, we do not step in and put her in touch with her parents.
§ Mr. SimmonsIn view of the apparent embarrassment of the right hon. Gentleman, would it help him if the Prime Minister appointed a lady as one of his Under-Secretaries?
§ Dame Irene WardSpeak up for us.