§ 75. Lieut.-Colonel POWNALLasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many non-service men and how many women are employed in the office of the Public Trustee's Department in a temporary capacity; and what steps he is taking to secure that the posts held by such personnel shall be filled by ex-service men who have been discharged from Government Departments and are now awaiting re-allocation?
Mr. H. YOUNGThere are 27 non-service men, of whom 10 are under notice, and 208 women employed in a temporary capacity in the Public Trustee's Department, including the Trading with the Enemy Department. Of the women, 168 are not substitutable by ex-service men, and of the remainder 16 are under notice of dismissal. The whole of the temporary non-service personnel is periodically under review by the Departmental substitution committee, and further substitution by ex-service men is proceeding as rapidly as the exigencies of the work permit.
Mr. YOUNGThese are women who are doing work which is not suitable for men—charwomen and certain classes of typists.
Captain COOTEWhy is the Trading with the Enemy Department retained, seeing that there is now no enemy?