§ Mr. HANNONasked the Minister of Labour what is the number of women between the ages of 18 and 35 at present registered as unemployed and in receipt of unemployment benefit; how many of these have been in receipt of benefit for three months or longer; and whether, in view of there being no immediate prospect of their obtaining employment in factory or clerical posts, consideration will be given to a scheme for training such women for domestic service for a period of, say, three months, after which, should they refuse positions in domestic 1400W service, no further liability on their behalf should be incurred by the State?
§ Mr. SHAWThe total number of women in Great Britin with current claims to unemployment benefit on 28th April last was 183,953. According to a sample analysis made last November, about 78 per cent. of women claimants were between the ages of 18 and 35. I have no statistics as to the number now on benefit who have drawn benefit for 15 weeks or more. As regards the last part of the question, I would first observe that a large proportion of the women on benefit consist of factory and mill workers on short time, particularly in Lancashire. A requirement that these women should enter domestic service would certainly not be advantageous to the trade of this country. Speaking generally, I am not prepared to make this requirement a condition of the home training courses which are being promoted and extended, with Government assistance, through the Central Committee on Women's Training and Employment.