§ Mr. ALLEN PARKINSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for War what arrangements, if any, were made for the absorption into civilian clerical employment of a temporary nature in his Department of women demobilised from His Majesty's forces, clerical units overseas or at home, from 1918 to October, 1920?
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSNo special arrangements were made. Women could not have been engaged without detriment to the interests of disabled and other ex-service men, who had, it was considered, a stronger claim.
§ Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether recently the number of women given as the highest figure reached in the employment of his Department prior to 1920 included subordinates with various home-service military units; and, if not, what was the number thus employed?
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The figures given were for the War Office only. As regards the last part, I regret that no figures are available, and the preparation of even approximate figures would entail much labour, the cost of which would not, I think, be justified.