HL Deb 29 June 1954 vol 188 c93

2.36 p.m.

THE EARL OF MANSFIELD

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware that women police in Scotland are obliged to resign from the service upon marriage, although no similar disqualification exists in England without apparent ill-effects; and whether they will cause the regulations to be altered, so as to avoid this considerable annual loss of trained personnel.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (THE EARL OF HOME)

My Lords, the decision to maintain the marriage bar for policewomen in Scotland, when the bar was removed in England in 1946, was taken on the advice of all sections of the Scottish Police Council, which contains representatives of local authorities and of all branches of the police service. It is proposed to ask the next meeting of the Council to reconsider the matter.

THE EARL OF MANSFIELD

My Lords, I thank my noble friend.