THE EARL OF HARROWBYasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the extent of shortage of typists in Government Departments, and how it is proposed to remedy this; what are the equivalent figures for the past five years, what commensurate wage figures are available as between State and industry in this field, and whether there is any wage grading attraction for those with academic qualifications in English.
EARL JELLICOEThe figures below show the staffing position in the central London area, to which the shortage of typists in Government Departments is almost entirely confined. The figures shown for 1961 and 1962 cover the (smaller) London postal area whereas the figures for the previous years cover the (rather wider) Metropolitan Police area:—
work is sent to suburban and provincial relief typing pools. A close watch is being kept on the standards of supervision and every effort is being made to encourage a friendly and informal atmosphere in typing pools.
The current Civil Service rates of pay in the central London area range from 515WA £5 1s. 0d. a week for a 15-year-old Grade II Copy Typist to £13 14s. 0d. a week for a Grade I Shorthand Typist on her maximum, and to £908 a year for a Clerical Officer (Secretary) on her maximum. Proficiency allowances may be earned in addition to basic pay, the maximum addition being 30s. 6d. a week for shorthand and typing proficiency.
It is not possible to make precise comparisons between these rates and the information available about rates outside; any comparison of basic rates, ignoring differences in hours, leave, pension arrangements, et cetera, would be misleading. But there is no reason to believe that, taken as a whole, the Civil Service grades are underpaid. However, the typing grades in the Civil Service will be the subject of a Pay Research Unit Survey in 1962–63.
In the Civil Service there are no wage grading awards for those with academic qualifications in English.