§ Major KELLEYasked the Minister for Labour, seeing that so many women are drawing unemployment pay, if he will see that those women who were before the War domestic servants are not given that unemployment pay when there is such a demand for domestic servants?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Dover (Sir T. Polson) on 12th May, a copy of which I am sending him. A claimant for benefit has to prove, among other things, that she is capable of and available for work, but unable to obtain suitable employment. She is, moreover, asked to furnish all necessary information for determining the occupation for which she is best suited, and domestic service would normally be considered suitable employment for an applicant who had had previous experience before the War or later in this work, subject to due consideration being given to her individual circumstances. A claimant refusing an offer of suitable employment is liable to 343W suspension of benefit. My hon. Friend will have noted that for the period 8th January to 8th April, 40,804 domestic service vacancies for women have been found by the employment exchanges.