§ Mr. MOSLEYasked the Minister of Health (1) when it is proposed to re-organise the inspectorate of the Insurance Department in order to carry out Clause 2 of the Resolution of the House of Commons on 5th August, 1921, that women shall hold posts in the Civil Service under the same regulations as govern the classification and, in so far as regards status and authority, other conditions of service for men;
(2) in what respect the duties of the women inspectors of the Insurance Department differ from those of the men inspectors other than that men and women deal mainly with workers of their own sex; and whether, seeing that the interests of the insured women of this country are adequately safeguarded by the present organisation of the women inspectorate, he will consider re-organising the male inspectorate on an equally economical basis, and thus saving the salaries of the men divisional inspectors?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe duties of the men inspectors are to secure compliance with the Insurance Acts, and to act within their districts as the local executive officers of the Insurance Department of the Ministry. The women inspectors are employed in the inspection of trades where women are mainly employed and in inquiries as to the benefits of insured women. The inspectorate is organised with strict regard to the requirements of the work, and it is not proposed to make any change in the organisation at the present time.