Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Labour whether, with, a view to the provision of an adequate supply of assistants and workers for the retail shops, and to reducing the volume of queues throughout the country, arrangements will be made for a substantial release of women employed in Government offices and the Services, who will undertake to engage and be employed in this category.
§ Mr. IsaacsSubstantial numbers of women are being released from the Auxiliary Services and those released in Class A will be free to take up employment as shop assistants if they so desire. Release in Class B must, in accordance with the White Paper, be confined to persons identified as belonging to particular occupational classes required for certain urgent reconstruction employments, and it would be contrary to the principles of the release scheme to release persons out of their turn merely on their undertaking to 651W enter certain employment in which they were not formerly engaged. The very extensive cuts which are being made immediately in munition production should also make substantial numbers of women available for employment in retail distribution. As regards Government Departments, it is not yet dear to what extent the cessation of hostilities will affect their staffing, but reductions are being and will be made wherever possible.