§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can give an estimate of the number of men of military age now engaged in administering the Insurance Act; the number of women competent and willing to do their work; the reason why so many such women have recently received replies from the head insurance offices that there are no vacancies; and what action it is proposed to take in this matter?
Mr. ROBERTSAs regards the first part of the question, the information at my disposal relates only to the staff of the four Insurance Commissions and the Joint Committee, and not to that of the County and County Borough Insurance Committees, nor of the approved societies. The number of men of military age engaged upon the administrative work of four Insurance Commissions and the Joint Committee at the outbreak of War was 1,220, of whom 509 have since joined His Majesty's Forces or have been seconded for special War work. I am unable to form any estimate of the number of women competent and willing to do the work of the remaining members of the staff, but I may say that women are being engaged almost daily through the Labour Exchanges, with the view of releasing further members of the staff for military service.