§ Mr. JOWETTasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the case of Miss Florence Wood, a telephonist at Bradford, who, at the end of twenty years' service, was receiving only 26s. a week wages, plus 3s. a week as instructress, exclusive of war bonus amounting to 12s. 6d., and who, on leaving the service, has relinquished her right to a gratuity of £70 in the event of marriage, and to the similar case of Miss Ada M. Fawcett, also of Bradford, who was receiving 26s. a week wages, exclusive of war bonus, and who has had to relinquish her right to a gratuity of between £55 and £60 in the event of marriage; and if, having regard to the fact that marriage gratuities are taken into consideration in fixing the rate of pay for women in the service of his Department, he will arrange some method whereby women who leave the service for other good reasons than for marriage may have restored to them the amount of deferred pay they have contributed towards the value of their contingent claim to a marriage gratuity?
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§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHMarriage gratuities areex-gralia payments authorised by the Treasury for established female officers of the Civil Service who are required by Departmental regulations to resign on marriage. They are not of the nature of deferred pay, and I am unable to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.