§ 25. Mr. Banfieldasked the Secretary of State for War the cost to the State, respectively, of employing an Auxiliary Territorial Service girl on clerical work and a temporary clerk, allowance being made for the unemployment pay which the clerk would otherwise receive; and how many of the Auxiliary Territorial Service are employed on typing duties?
§ Mr. StanleyThe cost of a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service of the rank of volunteer engaged on clerical duties may be taken as from 40s. to 45s. a week in respect of pay, rations and accommodation. In addition, she receives free uniform and medical and dental treatment. She has opportunities of promotion involving increased pay up to 33s. 3d. a week extra. The rates of pay of temporary women clerks aged 18 and upwards vary from 31s. to 57s. a week. I am unable to say how many members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service are employed on typing duties. I do not agree that the employment of a woman as a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service necessarily involves an additional issue of unemployment pay.
§ Mr. BanfieldWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind the terrible unemployment that there is among clerks, and does he not think it would be advisable to find them employment instead of calling upon the Auxiliary Territorial Service?
§ Mr. StanleyI think the hon. Member overlooks the fact that most of the girls who are doing this work as members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service are professional clerks and typists, and that they themselves would be unemployed if, instead of engaging them, we engaged somebody else.