58. Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether it is understood that future vacancies in the training grade of the executive class, 242 other than the 26 already held by women, are not to be filled by open competition but are to be reserved to men; and, if so, whether this is in accordance with the agreement reached on the National Whitley Council providing for the recruitment of women to the executive grade?
Mr. GUINNESSIn view of the number of redundant clerks on the scale of the training grade of the executive class, it will be obvious that recruitment to the class by open competition must, for the present, remain suspended. It is not, however, the case that all future vacancies in the grade are to be reserved to men, and I am not aware of anything in the existing arrangements which conflicts with the agreement reached on the National Whitley Council.