§ Sir J NORTON-GRIFFITHSasked the Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to the Army Council Instruction issued last year, which stated that all (civilians employed in Army offices were to be replaced by ex-soldiers or ex-service men, he will say how many women are at present employed in Army offices; of those who are so employed how many are doing work formerly done by men; and whether it is proposed to replace them by ex-service men?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSOn 1st January last the number of women included in the total personnel of 9,224 in the offices in question was 767, of whom 151 were ex-service women. Of the remainder 140 are doing work formerly done by men, and are therefore regarded as liable for replacement as and when qualified ex-service men become available. As explained in the reply to my hon. and gallant Friend on the 16th instant, the Instruction to which he refers contemplated the displacement of non-service persons subject to the over-riding consideration of the efficiency of the Service.