§ Sir N. MOOREasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to giving effect to the policy of restricting new entrants into the Civil Service for the remaining years of this Parliament, he will take the necessary steps to provide that appointments from the forthcoming women clerical officers open competition should be limited to the minimum number advertised to candidates; that no further women clerical officers open competitions should be held for several years, say five years; that wastage, etc., vacancies in clerical posts open to women during that period should be made good by promoting qualified writing assistants, typists, and other women with claims to such promotions; and that vacancies arising from the promotion of writing assistants and copying typists should he used to retain temporaries, averaging 10 years' service, who would otherwise he liable to discharge?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Regulations for the competition referred to did not contain any reference to a minimum number of posts to be filled. As regards the rest of the question, the detailed arrangements for giving effect to the policy of restricting new entrants to the Civil Service are now under consideration, but it is not the view of His Majesty's Government that the complete suspension of open competition is either feasible, or desirable in the public interest.