Duchess of ATHOLLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, when the appointment of Vice-Consul is under consideration, if there is no British man resident available with the necessary qualifications and if the pay is not sufficient to attract anyone from elsewhere to the locality, the claims of resident British women with the necessary qualifications for the post may be considered?
§ Mr. PONSONBYI have been asked to reply. The answer is in the negative. Under paragraph (a) of Section 1 of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act, 1919, power was given to reserve to men any branch of, or posts in, the Civil Service in any of His Majesty's possessions overseas or in any foreign country, and under the Order-in-Council of the 22nd July, 1920, the Civil Service Commissioners were empowered to make the necessary Regulations. The Civil Service Commissioners, with the approval of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, accordingly gave notice that they made the following Regulations under the above-mentioned Order-in-Council:
1. (On behalf of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs):
All posts in the Diplomatic Service and in the Consular Service are reserved to men.
This notice was published in the "London Gazette" of the 23rd August, 1921.