63. Major Vyvyan Adamsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many women are at present, or according to the 174 latest available returns, employed in the civil Departments of the Government in established and temporary posts, respectively, in the grades of Principal and above that of Principal, respectively, excluding posts requiring medical, scientific or similar professional qualifications, and excluding posts of purely advisory character?
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir Kingsley Wood)On 1st October, 1941, 13 women were employed in the Civil Service in administrative posts above the grade of principal, and 59 in posts of principal or broadly similar grading. Of these 12 and 19 respectively were established Civil servants and one and 40 respectively were temporary Civil servants. These figures relate to grades in the administrative class and exclude executive, specialist and advisory posts.
Major AdamsDo not these figures reveal a very low proportion of women in responsible positions? In order to encourage their war effort, will my right hon. Friend consider revising his policy and giving larger responsibility to a greater number of women?
§ Sir K. WoodI think that our policy is moving constantly in that direction.