§ 14. Miss Vickersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce in the near future legislation for the compulsory licensing of domestic employment agencies.
§ Mr. WoodhouseLegislation is already in force in some local authority areas requiring the compulsory registration of female domestic employment agencies, and in other areas local Acts provide for the licensing of all employment agencies. My right hon. Friend cannot at present give any undertaking about general legislation on the subject.
§ Miss VickersDoes not my hon. Friend think it necessary to get on with this legislation in view of the enormous number of girls coming to this country, particularly from Europe, who go to rather undesirable domestic agencies and who do not get the best appointments when they arrive? It would also enable us to sign the appropriate United Nations Convention.
§ Mr. WoodhouseI am not aware that there is any general urgency throughout the country on this problem, but if there is in any local authority area, it is open to the local authority to bring in its own legislation.
§ Miss BaconWould not the hon. Gentleman agree that it is very necessary to have these employment agencies licensed? Since it is the responsibility of the Home Office, would it not be very much better if that were compulsory rather than being left to local authorities? Will he look at the matter again, particularly as the hon. Lady the Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Miss Vickers) pointed out that it is not only girls in this country but strangers coming to our shores who are involved?
§ Mr. WoodhouseI am aware of the points the hon. Lady has made. We certainly will give them our attention, but I can only repeat what my right hon. Friend's predecessor said on the subject, that it is mainly a question of Parliamentary time.