§ Major GLYNasked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is the intention of the Air Ministry to replace approximately 50 per cent. of the present clerical staff, all ex-service men, at the Air Ministry out-stations by junior female clerks; whether this alteration is to be carried out for the purpose of effecting economies in cost; and whether the Whitley Council have made any representations to him on this matter?
Captain GUESTThere is no intention of discharging ex-service men to make room for women, but gradually, and as vacancies occur through resignation or other causes, women are to be taken on for work which is regarded as appropriate to them, and which they can do efficiently and economically; so that eventually something less than 40 per cent., roughly, of all the clerical posts at the out-stations will be held by women. Representations have been made by some of the branch Whitley Committees, but it has been explained to them that no deliberate creation of vacancies for women is intended.