§ Mr. RAPERasked the Minister of Labour if he will consider bringing pressure to bear on all the commercial and manufacturing firms and companies in this country, with a view to their employing at least an equal proportion of men to women and boys as compared with the composition of their staffs in 1913?
§ Dr. MACNAMARASo far as establishments affected by the Restoration of Pre-War Practices Act, 1919, are concerned, provision is made in that measure for securing the restoration of pre-War practices. As regards other industries, the Ministry of Labour through its local officers and Local Employment Exchanges has been unremitting in its endeavours to secure the reinstatement of ex-service men in their pre-War jobs, and is continuing to use all its influence to achieve this object. As regards the Government Service, my hon. and gallant Friend will know that as a result of the operation of the Joint Substitution Board, temporary staffs have been, and are being most carefully surveyed with a view to securing that married women whose husbands can maintain them, and single young women not dependent upon earnings are replaced by ex-service men.
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