Captain TERRELLasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the fact that a large number of women workers, formerly domestic servants, who temporarily entered other occupations during the War and are being now displaced, are subsisting upon the dole rather than return to their permanent work; and whether he proposes to take any steps to obviate this waste of public money?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs was stated in the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend on 4th May, only those women who are normally engaged otherwise than in domestic service are entitled to unemployment benefit. Women for whom domestic service is suitable employment and who refuse offers of employment in that occupation are not allowed benefit. Special steps have for a long time past been taken to enforce this rule, and I have reason to know that it is being effectively carried out. If my hon. and gallant Friend will supply me with particulars of any case in which he considers that it is not carried out I shall be glad to inquire into it. My hon. and gallant Friend will be interested to know that during 1921, 143,000 vacancies for domestic servants, resident and nonresident, were filled by the Employment Exchange; further, another 74,000 vacancies in other occupations for women were also filled.