§ Lieut.-Colonel HURSTasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that 40 first-class women clerks in the Public Trustee Office have been and are now performing executive duties interchangeably with men; that the regrading in this office is now completed without a single woman being assimilated to the executive class; and whether he will take immediate steps to 31W fulfil the Government's pledge to deal fairly with all women civil servants on assimilation?
Lieut.-Commander YOUNGThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The hon. and gallant Member would appear to be misinformed as to the facts. With regard to the remainder of the question, the scheme of re-organisation of the Public Trustee's Department is still under consideration, and the time has not yet arrived for determining in what manner any executive posts which may ultimately be approved are to be allocated amongst the existing personnel. In the meantime the female staff have been assimilated in accordance with the recommendations of the Re-organisation Committee's Report without prejudice to eventual higher appointments. Under these recommendations three women have been graded as members of the executive class (higher grade).