§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether he will arrange for the post of Director of Finance and Administration for the House of Commons to be re-advertised substituting `s/he' for the word 'he' in the original advertisement.
§ Mr. BeithNo. The original advertisements for the post of Director of Finance and Administration made it clear that the House of Commons is an equal opportunities employer. There are several female candidates among the very large number of applicants who have responded to these advertisements, and applications for the post are now being considered. If it were to prove necessary to re-advertise the post because none of the applicants was suitable for appointment, the availability of the post to candidates of either sex would be emphasised.