HC Deb 18 January 1944 vol 396 cc50-1W
Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mary Mills, aged 33, single, 12, High Street, Little Lever, Bolton, has been sentenced to imprisonment for refusing to return to the textile industry where she was employed as a weaver up to three years ago; that she was recently engaged on work of national importance in an aircraft factory; that her parents, with whom she is living, are old; that her home was near her recent place of work when the mill was closed; if this was her first appearance in court, what is the period of sentence; whether she was offered the alternative of a fine; whether a solicitor defended her; and whether, as weaving is detrimental to her health, he will allow her to return to her recent employment when released.

Mr. Bevin

Mary Mills was employed in the textile industry up to August, 1941, when the mill in which she worked was closed under a concentration scheme. She then worked until July, 1943, in a Ministry of Supply factory and in that month was given a direction under Defence (General) Regulation 58A (1) to employment as a weaver with Messrs. J. C. Hamer, Radcliffe. This was in accordance with the procedure which I have had to adopt in a number of cases owing to the special need for experienced labour in certain branches of the cotton industry. Owing to her failure to comply with this direction proceedings were instituted and after an adjournment she was sentenced by the Bench on 6th December to a month's imprisonment without the alternative of a fine. She had not previously been prosecuted by my Department and, so far as I am aware, had not previously appeared in Court. I am informed that she was not defended by a solicitor. While the legal proceedings were pending my Local Officers placed her in temporary local employment on plastics for aircraft. The Ministry of Supply factory, the Plastics firm and Messrs. Hamer's are, respectively, 15, 5 and 30 minutes' walk from Miss Mills' home. I am not aware of the ages of her parents. As regards her state of health, independent medical examinations, including examination by a consultant, were made before proceedings were taken and the advice I received was that she was fit for employment as a weaver. I will now consider this aspect of the matter again in the light of any further information I can obtain.