§ Lieut.-Commander Tufnellasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in some cases employers, on hearing that their employés have volunteered for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force on registration, have dismissed them from their employment on the grounds that if they defer their dismissal until they are actually taken for service they might find it difficult to secure suitable alternative employés; and whether, in these circumstances, he will prevent employers from dismissing girls until they are actually required for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force or other similar service, or arrange that the services shall give the employers at least a month's notice before calling up the girls, so that the former may have sufficient opportunity of obtaining substitutes?
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§ Mr. BevinNo cases of the kind have been brought to my notice but if my hon. Friend has any in mind and will give me particulars I will make inquiries. I am arranging for the future that whenever it is proposed after registration to transfer a gill who is in employment either to other employment or to one of the Women's Services, a notice shall be sent to the employer pointing out that it is against the public interest to discharge her and that he should keep her until the transfer has been definitely arranged and offering to assist him in finding a substitute if one is required. I understand that after a girl has been accepted for the W.A.A.F. two weeks' notice is normally given before she is called up for training. I also understand that if a girl who has been accepted for the W.A.A.F. loses her employment and for this reason asks to be called up immediately, all possible steps will be taken to meet her request.