§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take measures to withdraw from any liability for compensation to dismissed service women whose dismissal related to pregnancy at a time when such a dismissal was public policy.
§ Mr. HanleyMy Department accepted at a High Court hearing in December 1991 that the policy of discharging service women on grounds of pregnancy was in breach of the EC Equal Treatment Directive 76/207 which came into effect on 9 August 1978. Consequently the Department has accepted liability to pay compensation to service women dismissed on pregnancy between that date and August 1990 when the policy was discontinued and maternity leave was introduced.