Viscountess ASTORasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether there is any standard of cloak-room accommodation fixed for the needs of staff in Government offices; and whether adequate provision is always made for drying wet clothing and for the disposal of wet umbrellas?
§ Captain HACKINGThe needs of Government staff for cloak-room accommodation vary to such an extent that it is not practicable to apply a common standard, but cloak rooms or lockers are provided in those cases in which there are large massed staffs. No special provision is made for drying wet clothing or for the disposal of wet umbrellas.
Viscountess ASTORasked how many Government offices employing women on work on machines such as typewriters and calculating machines have a supply of hot water available for the staff; and in how many London offices, where over 100 staff are working, there is no hot water available?
§ Captain HACKINGI regret that the information desired can only be ascertained by the expenditure of a large amount of time and labour disproportionate to its probable value, and I hope that the Noble Lady will not press for it. In the majority of offices either a domestic hot water supply or apparatus for heating water is available.