27. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many men and how many women are now employed in the Censor's Department on the work of examining private correspondence to and from this country; and what is the scale of salaries for per sons so employed?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe number of men is 130, and of the women the same. The salaries are:—For men, £550, £400, £300 a year: £5, £4, and £3 a week. For women, £200 a year: £3 and £2 a week.
28. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked what qualifications are required of the women employed in the Censor's Department on the work of examining private foreign corespondence; whether these are highly educated women with a knowledge of several foreign languages; whether many of them were induced to offer their services by the promise that the salary would commence at £2 per week for a period not exceeding three weeks, when it would be raised to £3 per week if their services were found to be of special value; and what steps have been taken in pursuance of this promise?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe qualifications required are discretion and a knowledge of certain languages. The possibility of advancement was held out, but no period within which it would take place was mentioned. In pursuance of the undertaking mentioned, the salary of those whose services have been found to be of special value has been raised to £3 a week and further promotions will be made.
29. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the women employed in the Censor's Department on the examination of private foreign correspondence are required to work from 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m., while the men employed on the examination of foreign trade correspondence are only required to work from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; whether the examination of trade correspondence is much easier work than the examination of private correspondence; and whether he can either reduce the hours of the women on their present work or, alternatively, arrange an exchange of work and hours between them and the men?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe hours in the private correspondence department are from 9.30 to 6.30, and in the trade department from 10 to 6. Men and women are employed in both departments, and observe the same hours. Those employed in the trade department are, however, predominantly male.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTIs there any reason for the longer hours in the private correspondence department?
§ Mr. TENNANTOnly that it is suggested that the trade department requires more special knowledge.