§ Major BARNSTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if discharged soldiers hitherto employed as guards for forage stores have been replaced by women in Cheshire; what increase in cost for wages per week is involved by the change; what the total increase in cost per week for England and Wales is caused by this change; and how much per ton of forage handled this change will mean?
§ Mr. FORSTERMy hon. and gallant Friend is under some misapprehension. I am informed that the only forage store in Cheshire is a building that is shared with the Ordnance Department, and their night watchman guards the very small stock of hay therein. No women have been employed on duties of this nature in Cheshire, and the remainder of the question does not, therefore, arise.