§ Mr. Mainwaringasked the Minister of Labour whether he has formed an estimate of the number of pensioners in the country able and anxious to perform useful work in the national effort for victory; and whether he thinks employing these people should not take precedence of the efforts now being made to take womenfolk away from their homes?
§ Mr. AsshetonFigures on which to base such an estimate are not available. As stated in the reply my right hon. Friend gave on 6th March to the hon. Member for Gravesend (Sir I. Albery) every effort is made to place pensioners who register for employment in work of which they are capable, but this does not diminish the need for women in industry, particularly those who are free to take work away from their homes.