§ Mr. Guyasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that his Department, in advertising for a woman medical officer and a woman inspector in the children's branch with special experience among adolescent girls, states that the applicant is required to resign on marriage, and that the Royal Commission (1929) recommended that the power to recruit or retain married women should be specially applicable to higher administrative staffs, to medical officers, factory inspectors and inspectors of schools; and whether, as this point of view was equally urged by the Committee on Women's Questions (1934), he will review the condition compelling resignation on marriage in these cases?
§ Sir J. SimonI am aware of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service and the Committee on Women's Questions in this matter. The advertisement states the normal position regarding employment of women inspectors in the children's branch, but there is a discretionary power to retain any inspector in this branch on marriage of it is considered advisable in the light of her special qualifications or special experience in relation to the duties or the special requirements of the Department, and in, 851W a suitable case I should not hesitate to consult with the Treasury as to exercising this discretion.