§ Sir S. COATSasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the application of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act to women entering or already in the Civil Service is limited by Orders in Council; if so, whether these orders have yet been laid upon the Table; and, in view of the very generally expressed dissatisfaction of women with the Civil Service Reorganisation Report, will he consider the advisability of directing that their position should be reviewed in two instead of in five years?
1998W
§ Mr. BALDWINSection 1 of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act provides that
A person shall not be disqualified by sex or marriage from the exercise of any public function, or from being appointed to or holding any civil or judicial office or post, or from entering or assuming or carrying on any civil profession or vocation….Provided that (a) notwithstanding anything in this Section, His Majesty may by Order in Council authorise Regulations to be made providing for and prescribing the mode of the admission of women to the Civil Service of His Majesty, and the conditions on which women admitted to that service may be appointed to or continue to hold. posts therein, and giving power to reserve to men any branch of or posts in the Civil Service in any of His Majesty's possessions overseas, or in any foreign country.No Order in Council such as that contemplated has yet been laid upon the Table. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Prime Minister to the hon. and gallant Member for Durham City (Major Hills) on the 17th June.