HC Deb 29 July 1913 vol 56 cc272-3
24. Mr. SNOWDEN

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will abolish the disability under which the women typists in the secretary's office are employed in not having the benefit of the full Treasury scheme, or whether, since this exception virtually places the General Post Office typists in a class by themselves, he can see his way to recognise the Association of Post Office Women Typists?

The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)

I regret that do not see my way to alter the arrangement whereby the number of shorthand typists is limited to the number actually required. The women typists in the Post Office are not a Post Office class, but belong to a class common to all Government Departments in London. Under these circumstances, it would be contrary to practice for me to recognise an association formed by those officers in the class who are attached to my own Department. Any representations made by them in regard to matters which concern the Post Office alone will receive, however, the fullest consideration.

Mr. SNOWDEN

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the Secretary's office alone, where women are employed as typists and shorthand writers, that on a typist reaching the maximum salary she is not permitted to have the benefit of the scheme?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

Yes, Sir. The reason for the difference is that in the Post Office the conditions are quite different from other Government Departments. There is much less demand for the work of shorthand writing in proportion to the need of typists than there is in other Departments.

Mr. SNOWDEN

Is that class common to the service?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

The class is common to the whole service. They enter by the same process. The only difference is that when they go into a higher grade there is a smaller ratio of shorthand writers appointed in the Post Office than in other departments.

Mr. SNOWDEN

That is to say the conditions and prospects of these women, who enter by competitive examination, are far less in the Post Office than in any other Government office?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

They are scomewhat less, owing to the conditions of the work.