§ Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Labour whether, seeing that domestic 2272W service, to which a large number of girls is being directed, is not covered by the national scheme of insurance against unemployment, he will consider such prospects, in view of the fact that the present-day domestic service is fast becoming a day-time occupation, similar to ordinary industrial pursuits, and the employed persons just as much in need of the protection afforded by such insurance?
§ Mr. SHAWI have considered this question, in conjunction with other similar inquiries which have been made from time to time, and have reached the conclusion that the considerations which led to the exception of private domestic servants from the Act of 1920 are still valid to-day, and I am not prepared, therefore, to propose any amendment of the existing law.
§ Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the growing desire on the part of working girls to remain with their own parents, he will issue the necessary instructions to local Employment Exchanges that, in cases where mistresses apply for domestic servants, efforts will be made by the Exchange staff to impress the necessity for such domestic service being day-time, with a maximum of eight hours working day, and the cessation of work at such a reasonable hour that the girls will not be compelled to live in, but be able to return to their own homes; and whether, therefore, his Department will ensure that any such situations offered to girls signing the unemployment register will be within reasonable reach of their homes; and can he state the total number of girls who have refused acceptance of domestic service on the grounds that they did not desire to live in?
§ Mr. SHAWThe duty of the Employment Exchanges is to bring available employment to the notice of suitable persons on their registers. I am not satisfied that it is either practicable or desirable that they should attempt to lay down conditions of employment in the manner suggested. I regret that I am unable to give the figure asked for in the last part of the question.