§ Mrs. WINTRINGHAMasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the anticipated free promotion of suitable writing assistants and typists to the clerical class was one of the factors taken 1617W into consideration when the present scales were laid down; and whether the South-borough Committee will be asked to bear in mind the necessity of providing for such promotion when dealing with the further establishment of ex-service men?
Mr. GRAHAMI am not aware that the agreed scales of pay for writing assistants and typists are in any way contingent on the outcome of the recommendations for the promotion of suitable officers in these classes to the clerical class. As regards the latter part of the question, I understand that claims have been made that all clerical class vacancies should be filled by the absorption of temporary ex-service clerks. This claim falls to be considered by the Southborough Committee and, while I am not prepared to give instructions to the Committee on the matter, I have no doubt they will bear in mind all the relevant circumstances.