§ Mr. D. J. Williamsasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the alarm in Wales about the number of women who have left Wales for employment in England since the cessation of hostilities; if he will state the figures; and what steps are being taken to provide employment for women in Wales.
§ Mr. IsaacsI have no information as to the total number of women who have left Wales for employment in England since the cessation of hostilities, but about 1,200 unemployed women for whom no suitable local work was available at the moment, have since August, 1945, accepted employment in other regions through the Employment Exchanges. I am not aware of any general concern over this matter.
1 understand from my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade that up to the end of December, 1945, the new industrial projects completed or approved, including the use of Government owned factories, will in due course provide employment in the Development Area for over 67,000 workers, of whom more than half will be women. Potential developments will, it is estimated, provide work for a further 24,000 workers, a large proportion being women.