Miss Cazalet:

asked the Minister of Labour how many women have registered with their age groups; how many have already received personal interviews; how many of those interviewed were already in employment; and how many have been directed to a change in their employment?

The number of women who have registered with their age groups, including a provisional figure for the last registration on 27th September, 1941, is 2,151,280. The number of interviews according to the latest returns is 575,463. I regret that it would not be in the national interest to publish the other information asked for.

Is any form of compulsion contemplated?

I must have notice of that Question.

Miss Cazalet:

Have the Majority of those who have been directed to other employment by now taken up that employment?

Yes, Sir, the great Majority.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Dorothy Riding, Bessie Leigh and Beatrice Fearnley, all of Westhoughton, all unmarried, in business separately on their own account as hairdressers, after registering with their groups have been requested to undertake work in munition factories; that Form E.D. 346 does not indicate any compulsion but Form E.D.L. 74 states that they are required to take up such work; and will he make it clear as to whether compulsion is being resorted to in these cases and what are the penalties for refusal?

I am having inquiries made into the cases of the three persons mentioned by my hon. Friend and will let him know the result. Meanwhile I am sending him copies of the forms to which he refers.

I have copies of the forms. What I want to know is this: Now that the right hon. Gentleman is compelling women to leave their present occupations for work of national importance, what are the penalties if they refuse?

Happily, I have not had to compel very many. As I explained in reply to an earlier Question, I do use all the influence I can to get the women to transfer to national work. If a woman refused, I should have to issue a direction. There is no penalty until I issue a direction. If a direction is disobeyed, then she comes under Defence of the Realm Regulation 58A.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has already reached the stage of compulsion? One of these forms states in print that these women are required to undertake work of national importance.