§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that all women temporary staff in the issue office who were classified as being solely dependent on their earnings and in the third category of efficiency, i.e., of above average ability, have now been discharged; that men of lower clerical efficiency without dependants and without disabilities which prevent them from returning to their pre-War trades are still retained; and whether he will take this into consideration when reviewing the position of the remaining women of above average ability who have dependants to support?
Mr. ROBERTSAll women in the third of the four categories of efficiency, except war widows and dependants and ex-service women, have received notice, but the requirements of the work have necessitated an extension of notice in approximately 300 cases. The answers to the second and third parts of the question are in the affirmative.
§ Mr. HAYESasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing among women's societies generally at the recent discharges of women from his Department, classified as above average efficiency, and being solely dependent on their earnings, while men of lower efficiency were retained; whether he is aware that many of the women discharged had lost the breadwinners of their family owing to the War and others their fiancés; and what steps he proposes to take in the case of those women now under notice who are of equal efficiency and are classified as having dependants to support mainly as a result of the War?
Mr. ROBERTSThe matters referred to in the question are receiving my full consideration, and I have arranged to receive a deputation from an association representing the women's view. I will communicate my decision to the hon. Member in due course, but it will not be possible to retain the women now under notice after the circumstances which led to the temporary extension of their notices have ceased to operate.
§ Mr. PIELOUasked the Minister of Pensions whether he will inform the House the number of acting clerks that 304W have been promoted to substantive rank since 1st January, 1924; and, of this number, how many were ex-service men?
Mr. MUIRNo promotion is involved in the allocation between substantive and acting ranks of permanent civil servants appointed to posts under the regrading schemes, to which I assume the hon. Member's question has reference. The consideration of this matter is not yet completed, and the figures I can give do not, therefore, show the final aspect of the case. The principles under which the allocations are being made have been agreed by the Departmental Whitley Council. Twenty-five appointments have been made substantive and nineteen acting. One of the former and seven of the latter are ex-service men.