§ 40. Mr. AYLESasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can sec his way to advise the Government to review the question of the remuneration of women as compared with men in the Civil Service, as promised in the Resolution passed by the House of Commons on 5th August, 1921.
Mr. GRAHAMI would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the Noble Lady the Member for the Sutton Division of Plymouth (Viscountess Astor) on the 3rd July.
Viscountess ASTORDoes not the hon. Gentleman himself think it a most unsatisfactory answer, considering the promises of the Labour party?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. William Graham)As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The numbers of temporary clerks employed in tax offices on 1st July, 1924, were as follow:
| — | Males. | Females. | Total. |
| Grade I | 3 | 17 | 20 |
| Grade II | 272 | 83 | 355 |
| Grade III | 3,026 | 84 | 3,110 |
| Grade IV | 1 | — | 1 |
| 3,302 | 184 | 3,486 |
§ The remuneration of clerks graded I and II is at the moment under adjustment; that of Grade III follows the scales of pay prescribed under a recent agreement with effect from 29th March last for temporary Grade III clerks in the service generally, and is as follows:
§ equality with men, that the time has come when they should have economic equality, and that it is infinitely better for economic equality to be granted rather than to have it wrested from the Government?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThe reply of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in regard to these cases was, I think, that every effort has been made to secure equality of opportunity in the service, but my right hon. Friend indicated that, in view of the very large cost involved, he could not at this stage undertake to make monetary equality, or equality of payment, as well.