HC Deb 06 April 1939 vol 345 c3031W
Colonel Ponsonby

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the number of girls between the ages of 14 and 21 employed in factories with, if possible, a rough percentage of the number of such girls whose places could be taken by men?

Mr. E..Brown

At July, 1938, approximately 924,000 young women and girls, aged 14 and under 21, insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts, were classified as belonging to manufacturing industries. This figure includes, however, clerks, typists, and other ancillary workers. Separate figures are not available in respect of those employed on manufacturing processes nor is it possible to make an estimate of the proportion whose places could be taken by men.