§ Mr. GERALD HURSTasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the women clerical officers employed in the Board of Customs and Excise are given equal opportunities with their male colleagues for gaining experience on higher clerical duties; what is the total length of service in all Departments since appointment of the most junior male higher clerical officer; and of the most senior efficient woman 62W clerical officer available for promotion to the higher clerical grade?
§ Mr. R. McNEILLThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the length of total established service of the most junior of the male higher clerical officers in the Department (including those of acting rank) is eight years, of which four have been served in the Department. I could not undertake to institute the comparison between the women clerical officers employed in the Department suggested by the last part of the question.