§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Postmaster-General how many appointments have been made in the new tentative grade of assistant women clerks to perform, at a lower salary, some of the duties hitherto fulfilled by second-class women clerks, since the statement in the House that he did not intend to effect any general replacement by appointments in the new grade pending the investigations of the Select Committee; can he say how many appointments had been made previously; 760W and for how many more are early arrangements in contemplation?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNo appointments have been made to the new class in replacement of women clerks since my statement in the House to which the hon. Member refers. The number of female assistant clerks appointed in place of women clerks was and is eighteen. Four were appointed in place of female sorters. But, as I explained on the 7th instant in reply to the Noble Lord the Member for South Nottingham, I have appointed as assistant clerks in the London telephone service a number of women who were formerly employed by the National Telephone Company on a similar status, but with lower remuneration, and I have added to the number in order to provide for the increased work. But none of these appointments in the London telephone service have led to the displacement of a single woman clerk. In all thirty appointments to the class have been made since the date of my statement, and eighty-nine, including those referred to in the first paragraph, had been previously made.