§ Mrs. WINTRINGHAMasked the First Commissioner of Works how many posts above the clerical grade there are in the Office of Works; how many of these posts are filled by men and how many by women; and whether, seeing that this Department is responsible for the accommodation and equipment of all Government Departments, and in view of the fact that the Department is concerned with the provision of dressing-room and lavatory accommodation for 72,900 women, he will consider the desirability of appointing women to a certain number of responsible posts?
960W
§ Mr. JOWETTThere are 964 posts above the lower clerical grade in the Office of Works, all of which are filled by men with the exception of the chief superintendent and six superintendents of typists. 812 of these posts are professional and technical, recruitment being by qualifying examination and selection, limited at present to ex-service men. The remaining posts in the administrative, executive or supervisory grades are either confined to ex-service men or filled by promotion from the lower clerical grade in which 90 per cent. are ex-service men. There is, therefore, no immediate prospect of women obtaining these posts, even if they were eligible to compete for all entrance examinations. The question of eligibility to compete in future examinations for non-technical posts is one which affects the Service as a whole, and would, therefore, be dealt with by the Treasury.