§ Mr. ANDERSONasked the Minister of Munitions whether an Order has been issued under Section 6 of the Munitions of War (Amendment) Act, 1916, prescribing wages for women and girls on munition work not recognised as men's work; whether this Order is to be applied forthwith to controlled firms in the main munition areas engaged in the production of armaments, ammunition, and ordnance, and in all branches of mechanical engineering and shipbuilding; if so, whether he will state to which areas the Order applies, and in particular whether it includes Wolverhampton and the Black Country; the reason for excluding other areas; why controlled firms engaged in electrical engineering, rubber, miscellaneous metal goods, and the other trades coming within the scope of the National Insurance (Part II.) (Munition Workers) Act have not been dealt with under this Order; and whether and, if so, when he proposes to extend the Order so as to cover all women and girl engaged on munitions work?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe answer to the first two parts of this question is in the affirmative. The Order applies practically to the whole of the United Kingdom (including Wolverhampton and the Black Country), with the exception of a limited number of small towns and country districts, the case of which is being specially considered having regard to the special conditions of these districts. The reason why the Order has not been applied forthwith to certain classes of munition work is that it is desired to consider the applicability of the Order to these classes of work more closely. The position of all these classes of work is under careful consideration at the moment, and the application of the Order is being pressed forward. I propose to issue a statement in the course of a few days indicating the occupations to which the Order has been extended and to make certain additions to it.