§ Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why, when the Kenya Government introduced non-racial salary scales in the Civil Service after the Lidbury Commission, women were not 108W given inducement pay and serving women officers were not allowed to convert with inducement to C, P and N scales; if he is aware that this decision now prevents a number of women officers becoming designated officers and thus has a detrimental effect on their career compared to men serving in similar circumstances; and if he will take steps to remedy this situation.
§ Mr. MaudlingIn accordance with paragraph 97 of the Lidbury Report, inducement pay was added to women's scales where this was required to attract recruits from overseas. That, after all, is the basic reason for adding inducement pay to any scale, whether for men or women; and it is also the reason which determines the application of the Overseas Service Aid Scheme. The disability which prevents certain officers (some of whom happen to be women) from being designated under that Scheme thus equally affects men and women. The tests for designation are those described in the Aid Scheme Agreement between the Governments of Kenya and the United Kingdom, and they were established at the request of the former and with the prior concurrence of the relevant Staff Association in Kenya.