HC Deb 25 April 1923 vol 163 cc485-6W
Mr. CLYNES

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that there are at the present time many thousand unemployed women workers who are not suitable for or whose home circumstances do not permit of their undertaking domestic service, many of them having a skilled trade or occupation in which they expect to be reabsorbed on the revival of industry, who in the meantime at best are struggling to exist on 12s. a week unemployment benefit, while in many cases even this inadequate allowance has been stopped, he will take immediate steps to see that a grant is made from the Ministry of Labour for an extension of the homemakers' training centres of the Central Committee on Women's Training and Employment to assist these women and alleviate the severe hardship and deterioration to which they are at present subjected?

Sir M. BARLOW

I recently discussed this question with a deputation from the Trades Union Congress and the views then expressed are receiving my careful consideration. As at present advised, I am not proposing to recommend state assistance for the purpose of providing domestic training for women who are unprepared to pledge themselves to enter domestic service when trained.