HC Deb 18 July 1890 vol 347 c224
MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury in what Departments of the Civil Service it has been decided to employ female type-writers; whether the appointment of type-writers in any Department is made through the agency of the Civil Service Commission, or whether each Department is left to make its own appointments; whether it is obligatory on Departments to employ any particular typing instrument; and what scale of salary is approved by the Treasury for payment to typists in the Departments in which sanction to such employment is given?

* MR. W. H. SMITH

The Royal Commission on Civil Establishments favoured the employment of women in Public; Departments under proper arrangements, and they pointed especially to the value of their work as type-writers. The Treasury, in their Minute of August 10 last, on the Report of the Commission (paragraph 27) expressed their entire concurrence, and they are doing all in their power to encourage Departments to-employ female type-writers. I am happy to say they are employed with good results in many Departments, such as the Inland Revenue, the War Office, the Customs, the Foreign Office, and the Treasury. Each Department appoints its own type-writers, and selects the instruments. The scale approved by the-Treasury ranges between 14s. and 24s. a week, according to service and experience.