§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider referring to the Southborough Committee for report the claims of temporary women civil servants to receive gratuities under the Superannuation Act of 1887 after seven years' service, in view of the fact that many women who have lost their potential bread winners, or have dependants, as a result of the War, are being discharged after such a period of service at an age at which it is most difficult for them to obtain other employment?
Mr. GRAHAMI fear I cannot agree to this proposal. I would refer my right hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on this question generally on the 26th February in answer to a question from the hon. Member for Lindsey, in which I indicated that the proposal would involve preferential treatment for women clerks.