§ Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Secretary for Mines whether he can give the names of any countries where women are employed underground in coal mines?
§ Captain CrookshankI understand that women are not employed underground in any mines in Europe with the exception of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. As regards Asia, it was stated during the International Labour Conference at Geneva in 1935 that women were employed below ground in mines in India and Japan, but that both countries had taken steps to secure a progressive reduction in the numbers so employed. I have no information as to the progress made in this respect in Japan, but in the case of India it is understood that the process is virtually, if not entirely, completed.