§ 2. Viscountess Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local authorities have appointed children's officers; and how many have followed the recommendation of the Curtis Committee and appointed women.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Ede)The Curtis Committee did not make any definite recommendation that women should be appointed to these posts but said that they thought it might be found that the majority of persons suitable for the work would be women. Ninety local authorities have so far appointed children's officers. In five cases, the same person has been appointed by two neighbouring authorities. Of the 85 persons appointed, 64 are women.
§ Viscountess DavidsonDoes the Home Secretary agree that it would be far more practicable for women to do this work whenever possible, and will he use his influence with the authorities concerned to this end?
§ Mr. EdeI think the best person amongst the applicants for the job should be appointed, irrespective of sex, but I am gratified to find that so large a proportion of the people actually appointed are, in fact, women.
§ Commander MaitlandCan the Home Secretary say what proportion of the local authorities who are going to make these appointments have actually done so?
§ Mr. EdeI think there are approximately 146 of these authorities in England and Wales, and 90 have already made the appointments.
§ Commander MaitlandWould it not be easier to get the best people for this job if the very rigid enforcement of the academic qualifications necessary were relaxed to some degree in order to provide a larger field from which to make selections?
§ Commander MaitlandOh, yes, there is.
§ Mr. Ede—but I must have regard to the steps which people have taken to qualify themselves for the post and not give way to local pressure that some existing officer, generally of an advanced age, of the local authority should be appointed to the post.