§ 63. Sir WALTER de FRECEasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction amongst members of the writing-assistant and typing grades employed in his Department owing to the small number of promotions which have been made in these grades recently, having regard to the number of open recruits and transfers from other Departments appointed to the clerical class in connection with the recent increase of work; and whether he will give sympathetic consideration to the claims of all suitable writing assistants and typists for promotion to clerical posts arising out of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)My right hon. Friend has no reason to believe that there is any considerable dissatisfaction among the 2199 staff as to the number of officers promoted to the clerical grade from the writing assistant and typing grades. During the last five years 56 officers have been so promoted, and my right hon. Friend has recently arranged for a further number of officers of these grades to be placed on clerical duties to test their fitness for promotion.
§ Miss WILKINSONMay I ask the hon. Gentleman why it is there is such a considerable disproportion between the number of men and women appointed to posts under the Widows' Pensions scheme. I understand the proportion is something like 91 to 16. May I ask him why?
§ Sir K. WOODThat is another matter, and I would like the question to be put on the Paper.