§ Mr. HAYDAYasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that men recently transferred to the Pensions Issue Office have been placed on filing on Grade 111 rates of pay, some drawing as much as 65s. 6d.; that women who have been employed on this work prior to the introduction of men and who are now engaged in checking the work of the latter and training them are in receipt of 40s. a week or are on Grade IV rates of pay; and that some time back a claim was put in on behalf of those women to receive Grade III rates but was rejected on the grounds that the work was appropriate to a grade below that of Grade III, and that, therefore, no higher rate of pay could be given; whether most of the women concerned have long Government service behind them; and whether efforts will now be made either to give these women, if they remain on filing side by side with the 2951W men, Grade III rates of pay also or opportunities for trial on other Grade III work?
§ Major TRYONIt is a fact that a small number of men redundant in other branches of the Ministry have been recently transferred to Pensions Issue office and have been placed temporarily on filing duties partly to relieve pressure and partly as an experiment. This work has hitherto been performed by Grade IV women clerks and is appropriate to that grade. No question therefore arises of giving them Grade III rates of pay. The question of promotion from Grade IV to Grade III would be considered if vacancies in the Grade III ranks occurred, but, owing to prospective reductions in the numbers of temporary Grade III clerks, no vacancies are anticipated.