§ 52. Mr. LIVINGSTONEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many women in the Civil Service with professional qualifications are employed in grades open to men; whether they receive the same rates of pay; and, if not, what would be the cost of placing them on the same scale?
Mr. GUINNESSI am unable to say how many women there may be in the various grades in the Civil Service who possess professional qualifications, In a few posts in which medical qualifications are required, women receive the same scales as men.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Sir JOSEPH NALLDoes the right hon. Gentleman know how many of these women maintain husbands and families?
§ Miss WILKINSONWhy is it, if the women receive the same wages as men in this particular case, the rule is not applied to the other women employed?
Mr. GUINNESSWe have to pay the necessary market rate to secure satisfactory candidates. It is notorious that we do secure such candidates in the Civil Service, without giving equal pay to men and women.
§ Captain GEEAre we to understand that the right hon. Gentleman takes these females into the Department without any idea or knowledge of their qualifications, as he is unable to give them?
Mr. GUINNESSCertainly not. This question asked about professional qualifications and no definition was given as to what professional qualifications meant. The only class where professional qualifications are required of women is the case of the lady doctors to whom I have referred.
65. Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of women in the manipulative grades in the Civil Service employed on the same work as men; how many of these women are receiving equal pay with men; how many are remunerated at a lower rate; and what would be the cost per annum of placing all those women on the men's scale?
Mr. GUINNESSThe number of women in the manipulative grades in the Civil Service employed on the same work as men is approximately 25,000. As regards their rate of remuneration and the cost of placing them on the scales appropriate to men, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 24th March to the hon. and learned Member for Moss Side (Mr. Hurst), of which I am sending him a copy.