Mr. COWANasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the grounds on 534W which the limit of age for girl candidates for admission to the clerical staff of the Civil Service has been reduced from 16½—17½ years to 16–17 years; whether he is aware that such reduction of age is detrimental to the interests of secondary education in Scotland for the reason that intending candidates for the Civil Service are compelled to leave school before completing the course for the group leaving certificate; and whether he will take steps to have the former age limit restored?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe age limits for girl candidates for admission to the clerical grade in the Civil Service were altered to 16–17 to conform with those prescribed for male candidates in pursuance of the Resolutions of the House of Commons of the 5th August, 1921, which, after approving certain temporary Regulations, directed that, after a provisional period of three years, women should be admitted to the Civil Service in the United Kingdom under the same Regulations, present and future, as provide for and prescribe the mode of admission of men.