asked the Minister of Labour what steps he proposes to take to provide domestic help for mothers with families of children.

The highest priority is given to the supply of domestic help to households where exceptional hardship is occasioned by the lack of such help, including households where there is a number of young children or where there is an expectant mother and a young child. In the twelve months ended 27th June, 1945, nearly 25,000 placings have been effected in "hardship" households. I fear, however, that there will be no substantial amelioration in the present shortage of domestic workers until the general stringency of man-power is eased.