[West Ender]

I have been a Civil Servant since 1959, though with a 20 year gap in service from 1964 to 1984.

The reason for this long gap was my 3 children. When I was pregnant with my first child I knew that I would have no alternative to resignation when she was born. There was no part-time working, no flexi-time and only 6 weeks Maternity Leave. What's more, if I had to take Sick Leave for any pregnancy-related illness I was not paid.

I returned to the Service when my youngest child was 9. By then flexi-time was an institution and part-time work quite acceptable. In the years since then, "term-time" working has been introduced, Maternity Leave is at least 6 months, five-year breaks are possible and pregnancy-related illness is not even recorded as Sick Leave.

Whether or not one agrees with the above, this lady pilot has done nothing more than demand the right to be treated equally with a government employee, though I too think her occupation should be treated rather differently.

I would add that men in the CS can also work part-time, have flexi-time and will soon have paid Paternity Leave. Maybe pregnancy-related illness is somewhat unobtainable for the men but - one never knows.