§ 54. Dame Irene Wardasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many administrative officers are employed by the Commonwealth Secretariat; how many women have been appointed; how the selection is made; and what encouragement has been given to well qualified women in the Common wealth to apply.
§ Mr. BottomleyI understand from the Commonwealth Secretariat that seven senior officers have been appointed. None is a woman. Of other staff, eight are women including the press officer.
The procedure for recruitment is laid down in the memorandum agreed by 43W Commonwealth Heads of Government presented to Parliament as a White Paper (Cmnd. 2713). There is no ban on the appointment of women, but I understand that no Commonwealth Government has nominated a women for a senior post.