§ 96. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the financial Secretary to the Treasury how many examiners and how many clerks borrowed from the National Health Insurance audit staff there were, respectively, in the Exchequer and Audit Department on the 1st May; and how many of these were of military age?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Montagu)Modifications have been made, as a temporary measure, in the work of the National Health Insurance Audit Department, partly in order to allow members to join the military forces and partly to provide men with accounting knowledge for other Departments requiring additional staff owing to war pressure. Under this arrangement thirty-one auditors and assistant auditors, all of military age, were lent to the Exchequer and Audit Depart- 2714 ment. In addition five temporary clerks were transferred, three of whom were over military age and two were medically rejected.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMWhy cannot women do this temporary clerks' work?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThis matter arose because the head of the Audit and Exchequer Department—the Comptroller and Auditor-General—had in fact allowed to join the Colours more men of his staff than he could properly afford. He then found it almost impossible to get the staff necessary to do the work, and he had to borrow these men in consequence. Women are being largely employed wherever possible.