asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that married women temporarily employed in the Civil Service have to resign when pregnant, without guarantee of re-employment; and whether he will consider this provision and allow such women special leave with pay for such a period as they would be entitled to for ordinary sick-leave purposes?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has considered representations concerning the absence of satisfactory pro vision for married women in temporary Government employment in the case of childbirth; and whether, in view of the appeals that have been made to married women to undertake such service in the national interest, appropriate regulations will be made to deal with such cases, including at least leave of absence without pay for a suitable period before and after the birth of a child?

I have received no recent representations on the leave arrangements for married women in temporary Government employment in the case of childbirth. I am, however, quite willing that the matter should be looked into, and I think that it might be appropriately discussed through the normal Whitley procedure.