§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the steps taken to eliminate discrimination on grounds of sex from those fields of law and administration which are within the control of his Department; and in 89W which matters such steps have not yet been taken.
§ Mr. John DaviesThere is a small number of areas within the purview of my Department in which the employment of women is either prohibited by Statute or would be inappropriate on the grounds of the nature of the work. For example, the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954, prohibits the employment of women below ground at a mine; and it would be equally impracticable to employ women in areas such as the Inspectorate of Offshore Installations. Where these considerations do not apply, my Department is careful to ensure that every job is given to the best qualified candidate regardless of sex.