§ 61. Miss WILKINSONasked the Secretary of State for War why the annual leave with pay which is granted to men viewers in the stores and clothing inspection department is withheld from women viewers; and whether he would be prepared to rectify this inequality?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Captain Douglas King)I find that leave with pay was granted to the male viewers many years ago as an exception to the general rule that such leave is not granted to workers of this grade. I regret that it is not possible to make further exceptions now, particularly as the Government so recently as March last found it necessary to refuse an application for paid leave for Government industrial employés generally.
§ Miss WILKINSONMay I ask whether the hon. and gallant Gentleman thinks it fair that men and women working on exactly the same type of work should not be paid the same?
§ Captain KINGI would point out that we are treating the women as the general industrial workers, most of whom are men, are treated.