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Married Women With Children (Employment)

Volume 388: debated on Tuesday 6 April 1943

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asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to prevent married women with children going into industry where, in the opinion of his Department, it results in neglect of the children?

I could not undertake the general responsibility of deciding whether women voluntarily engaged in industry are thereby neglecting the care of their children. A large number of war-time nurseries have been provided through the Maternity and Child Welfare Authorities. Women who have young children to care for are neither summoned for interview by my Department nor directed into any form of employment. If a young woman with young children who is in employment covered by an Essential Work Order seeks to leave in order to look after her children permission would normally be given by the National Service Officer.