HC Deb 05 December 1944 vol 406 cc355-6
56. Mr. Naylor

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if members of the W.L.A. are to be allowed to enter for the Civil Service examinations on the same terms as and concurrently with members of the Forces.

Mr. Peake

Under the Report of the Committee of the Civil Service National Whitley Council (Cmd. 6567), members of the Women's Land Army will not be eligible for the vacancies reserved to ex-Servicemen and ex-Servicewomen, since the definition of ex-Service adopted by the Committee for this purpose included only the Services defined in the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, that is to say, the Armed Forces, the corresponding Women's Services, the Merchant Navy and Mercantile Marine.

Mr. Naylor

Is there any possibility of that decision being reconsidered?

Mr. Peake

I do not think so, because if we were to admit all those for preference who have been engaged in war service of any kind then, obviously, there would be no real preference left for men who have been doing the actual fighting.