§ Mr. Parkerasked the Minister of Labour whether the calling-up of women over 30 years of age has commenced; and, if so, for what groups?
§ Mr. BevinThe age groups at present proclaimed under the National Service Act as liable to be called up for the women's auxiliary services do not include women who had attained the age of 31 years or over on the date of the Proclamation, namely, 18th December, but the registration under the Registration for Employment Order of women over 30 has already been announced; the 1910 class registered on 6th December and the 1909 class will register on 24th January next. Further age groups will register thereafter at fortnightly intervals until 21st March next when the matter will be further reviewed. Selection interviews for the purpose of transferring such women to war industry will commence immediately after registration.
§ Mr. Wootton-Daviesasked the Minister of Labour whether his decision tot to call up for other war work, for the time being, women now doing Civil Defence work, applies only to whole-time paid workers or also to full-time volunteers?
§ Mr. BevinThe general arrangement, under which women serving in Civil Defence are not, for the time being, being called up for other war work, applies to those enrolled for whole-time paid service in the Local Authority General Services, the National Fire Service, and the Women's Auxiliary Police Corps, and to full-time volunteers filling vacancies in the paid establishment of these Services. (The "paid establishment" means the maximum number of whole-time personnel the local authority is authorised to employ in a service in a particular area.) The cases of full-time women volunteers doing other duties connected with Civil Defence are considered in the light of the duties undertaken, in consultation with the local authority concerned.