7.
1969 equal pay scheme. I realize that many of the SAT's with long service feel that they were unfairly treated. However, in 1971 an independent Salaries Commission considered the effects of the scheme on Secretarial Class pay and recommended appropriate adjust- ments which were accepted by the Government.
8.
The half-pay maternity leave scheme, Although the Secretarial Class fared less well than other female employees under this scheme, it was introduced in 1974 with the full agreement of the major staff associations. The aim of the scheme was to have one set of maternity leave rules for the whole Civil Service. This unfortun- ately meant that women in some grades gained while others lost.
9.
In your penultimate paragraph you comment that it appeared that at one time a SAT held some prospects for advancement which have now disappeared. This is far from being the case. The establishment of Senior Personal Secretaries/Personal Secretaries is 388 and is growing all the time: the establishment of Stenographers/SAT's is 544. Since the average age of the latter is about 25, and it is established policy to fill vacancies for Personal Secretary by promotion of Stenographers/SAT's. the career prospects of the latter are quite favourable.
10. To bring you up to date, the number of SAT's who have not accepted regrading as Stenographer is 77, compared with the figure of 109 referred to by the Governor in his letter of 18 April.
11.
A new Committee took office at the beginning of this month. The Secretary for the Civil Service has had discussions with them. He has told them that he is having a fresh look at the requirements of the Secretarial Class and that, for this purpose, he is arranging for a fresh pay review to commence in October this year. The SAT Committee, and other interested staff associations, will be consulted on the detailed arrangements.
12.
May I assure you that this fresh examination of the Secretarial Class will take account of the matters mentioned in your letter.
DR
(Denys Roberts) Acting Governor
Copied to: RJT McLaren (FCO)
HR G Hurst (Overseas Labour Adviser, FCO)
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