§ 10. Viscount CURZONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty are now employing any women to carry out the duties formerly discharged by the Women's Royal Naval Service; if so, how many; and in what capacity?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)In reply to my noble Friend's question of 10th December, I explained that at that time 564 ex-members of the Women's Royal Naval Service were employed by the Admiralty. I pointed out that in the great majority of cases the employment was purely temporary, and that, where practicable, ex-service men were being substituted. At the present time the number of ex-W.R.N.S. ratings still retained on a civilian basis is 291, and by the end of this month this number will be reduced to 192. They are mainly engaged as clerks and shorthand-typists. Most of them will not be required for very long.