61. Viscountess ASTORasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why an advertisement was inserted in the daily Press on 12th July, 1929, for a junior translator (woman) for the Air Ministry; why permanent women civil servants were not given the opportunity of applying for the vacancy, seeing that numbers of them have the qualifications that were required; and if he will give an undertaking that in future permanent women civil servants shall be given the opportunity of applying for transfer to his Department when vacancies occur before the post is advertised in the daily Press?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Mr. Montague)The advertisement referred to was in respect of a vacancy in an unestablished post for which the pay and conditions of service differ from those for permanent women civil servants. In view of the relative rates of pay and of the loss of pension rights involved in transfer from permanent to unestablished status, the post in question would hold no attractions for the permanent staff.