§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Pensions who was responsible for altering the Departmental marks originally recommended in connection with the recent writing assistant examination for temporary women staff in the case of certain temporary women employed at the Pensions Issue Office and upon what grounds these alterations were made; whether he is aware that certain women staff employed in his Department have been demobilised or are under notice on account of their efficiency classification, although many of these were awarded much higher departmental marks in the recent examination for temporary women staff to enter the writing assistant grade than were awarded to other women placed in a 1985W higher efficiency category for the purpose of retention as temporary employés; and whether he can explain how this anomaly has arisen, in view of the fact that much discontent exists amongst the staff concerned?
§ Major TRYONThe Civil Service Commissioners are responsible for the final assessment of departmental marks in examinations for entry to established service. The efficiency classifications which I have decided to adopt for determining the order of demobilisation of temporary women staff are not necessarily in every case identical with the award of departmental marks, which are based upon specific questions addressed to the Department by the Civil Service Commissioners.
§ Sir H. CAYZERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can explain the anomalies existing in Departmental marking awarded to temporary women staff employed in Portsmouth dockyard in connection with the recent writing assistant examination for temporary women clerks, under which women employed on better work than others, on account of their efficiency, have received lower Departmental marks than their colleagues?
§ Mr. McNEILLI have been asked to reply. The Departmental marks awarded to candidates at the recent examination, restricted to temporary women clerks, for writing assistant posts, were allotted by the Civil Service Commissioners on the basis of the replies of Departments to detailed questions framed by the Commissioners and directed to ascertain the. capacity and conduct of the candidates. I am not prepared to interfere with the discretion of the Civil Service Commissioners in the matter.