§ 65. Colonel Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he or his predecessors have given an assurance that the prospects and interests of members of the permanent staff of his Department on active service shall not be prejudiced by any action taken by him during the period of the War; and whether, notwithstanding such assurance, he has made permanent, or intends to make permanent, during the War the appointment of any female clerks temporarily employed in his Department?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Hayes Fisher)I have offered a permanent appointment to a lady who has been employed for a year past in the branch of my Department which deals with maternity and child welfare. I certainly have no intention of taking any steps which would prejudice the prospects or interests of the men who have joined the forces, and the appointment of this lady cannot be regarded as doing so. The question of the continued employment of women clerks in the Civil Service after the War is a general one which I assume the Treasury will deal with as a whole.