§ 81. Lieut.-Colonel Sir S. HOAREasked the Minister of Health whether he has any first-class women clerks who have been interchangeable with intermediate clerks and any first-class women clerks who have been interchangeable with supervising assistant clerks; and, if so, how it has been possible to assimilate the male clerks to the executive and higher clerical grades, respectively, before the regrading schemes have been ratified, when it is not possible to assimilate the women clerks to the same grades until after the number of posts available on reorganisation is known?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Sir Alfred Mond)As stated in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member on 2nd June, the clerks in question, both male and female, have been assimilated into the grades recommended in the Report 1789 of the Joint Committee of the National Whitley Council. Pending the coming into operation of the reorganisation scheme for the Ministry of Health, no other action was open to me. When the scheme is approved and I am in a position to deal with regrading as distinct from assimilation, the claims of all clerks who are competent to perform duties appropriate to higher grades will receive the fullest consideration.
§ Sir S. HOAREDo I understand from that answer that the claims of these women will be in no way prejudiced by the delay?
§ Sir A. MONDYes, certainly. They will not be prejudiced.