The undertaking in question was given by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 1st January last, and was to the effect that for a period of two years from that date, no appointment should be made to the writing assistant grade or to the clerical class (women) in any headquarter establishment of any department from the successful candidates at any future open competition, if such appointment would involve the discharge from that establishment of an efficient temporary woman clerk fully capable of performing the duties of such post; this arrangement to be without prejudice to the promotion of writing assistants to posts in the clerical class. The total number of writing assistants appointed to the Savings Bank Department from outside during the three years mentioned are 282 in 1924, none in 1925, and two in 1926 (up to date).