§ Mr. DAYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of the female staff holding established situations in the Civil Service who have had to resign their appointments in the service on account of marriage, under the Order in Council of 22nd July, 1920; and whether all these ladies received a marriage gratuity?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEI regret that it would not be possible, without the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of time and labour, to ascertain the number of female staff who have, during the last 16 years, resigned their appointments on marriage. The payment of a marriage gratuity is subject to a qualifying minimum period of service, namely, six years. A marriage gratuity is not, therefore, payable in all cases.