HC Deb 11 February 1946 vol 419 c15W
Mr. Murray

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that married women are working in the Spennymoor factory, while their husbands are signing the register at the employment exchange; and what prospect there is in these development areas for the employment of male labour at an early date.

Sir S. Cripps

Work for both men and women will be provided in the Spennymoor R.O.F., now being converted into a trading estate, and in other new factories approved for the North-Eastern development area. I am aware that there are men unemployed at present in Spennymoor while women are working in the factory, but there are more women than men now unemployed in this area. As regards" the second part of the Question, about two-thirds of the estimated vacancies in the new factories approved for this development area will be for men.