CIVIL SERVICE MARRIAGE BAR
Stn,--We have read your note of August 23rd on the Civil Service marriage bar with interest. On March 8th, 1945, we received, as members of an all-party deputation representing nearly 200 Members of Parliament, an assurance from the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Anderson, that he was prepared to agree that arrangements should be made for the marriage bar to be reviewed in consultation with the staff side. This was done•and the report of the Civil Service National Whitley Council Committee signed on March 3rst, 1946, has just been published —in August. The terms of reference did not require any recommenda- tions,.but the last paragraph of the Report reads as follows : " It must be pointed out that if the marriage bar is to be removed it is highly desirable, for reasons connected with reconstruction recruitment, that the decision should be taken in the very near future. We do not regard it as practicable to admit married women to any type of recruit- ment when once the closing date .for applications has passed and the process of selection is in full swing. On the other hand, a removal of the marriage bar which did not apply to the open reconstruction compe- titions would be deeply resented by married women eligible on every other ground for these competitions ; and since the closing date for appli- cations by civilians to sit for the competitions is June 1st, 1946, we think that the removal of the marriage bar, if it were to be decided upon, should be announced in time to allow married women to apply by that date."
Observing these dates'We find it difficult to understand how the Govern- ment can justify this five-mbnths delay in reaching a decision. Why is it also that Governments (of any complexion) when pressed to legislate on women's affairs invariably set up a committee to investigate implica- tions—already obvious and investigated on innumerable occasions—but never to make recommendations for immediate action?—Yours faithfully,
57, Fountain House, Park Street, W. I. IRENE WARD.
THELMA CAZALET KED.
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