§ Mr. Leaveyasked the Secretary of State for Air to what extent dismissals of civilians employed at No. 35 Royal Air Force Maintenance Unit at Heywood, Lancashire, have recently taken place because of redundancy; whether any such dismissals are anticipated in the next six months; and whether the employment of women in future will be determined exclusively by the nature of the work to be undertaken.
Mr. WardTwenty-three clerks have left on redundancy and another five will leave in the near future. Thirty women employed in industrial grades as substitutes for men were recently discharged, under the arrangements agreed with the trades unions concerned, when men became available. Women will, however, continue to be employed in these grades when men cannot be recruited.