§ 32. Mr. Levyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will define the policy according to which women, trained and efficient at certain Admiralty Compass Observatories, are being discharged in favour of men who would require specialised training and who could equally well be trained for other employment less suitable for women.
Mr. DugdaleWomen were engaged at the Admiralty Compass Observatory during the war to meet the shortage of male labour. By agreement with the trade union concerned, they were trained and employed as dilutees on work normally performed by men, and were due to be discharged as soon as men became available or reductions in staff became necessary. Discharges since the war have been in accordance with this agreement. The only male operatives engaged during this period have been former employees returning from military service. These men are already qualified mechanics, and require no specialised training.