§ Mr. B. SMITHasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why women temporary clerks in the Ministry of Pensions sitting for the examination for writing assistants had to obtain a minimum of 550 marks, while the minimum for male clerical officers was 450?
§ Mr. McNEILLI am unable to identify the examination for male clerical officers to which the hon. Member refers. In any case the syllabus of an examination for posts of writing assistants would be different from the syllabus of an examination for clerical posts; the maximum number of marks obtainable may also differ; and the comparison which the hon. Member attempts to make could have no significance.
§ Mr. MARDY JONESasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the apprehension at present existing as to the extent to which the establishment branch of the Treasury intervenes in connection with decisions proper to the Civil Service Commissioners regarding the qualifying mark in limited competitions for Civil Service posts, he will have published as a White Paper for the information of the House any communications which have passed between the Civil Service Commissioners and the Treasury regarding the following examinations: the Southborough examination for the establishment of temporary ex-service men, the Southborough examination for the establishment of temporary women clerks as clerical officers, and the recent examination open to temporary women clerks for writing assistant appointments?
§ Mr. McNEILLThere is no correspondence between the Treasury and the Civil Service Commissioners respecting the marks necessary for qualification in any of the examinations to which the hon. Member refers. The question is one for the decision of the Civil Service Commissioners, and there is no foundation in the belief that the Treasury has intervened in the matter. On the contrary, I am frequently urged by hon. Members to interfere with the decisions of the Commissioners, but have always declined to do so.