§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to the excellent work which is being done by "The National Association for the Employment of Reserve and Discharged Soldiers;" and, whether the officers of the Society are receiving any practical support from the various Offices and Departments under Government?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle), in reply, said, the attention of the Government had been drawn to the excellent work which was being done by the Association referred to; and, in consideration of its claims upon the State for material support, the sum of £200 was contributed annually from Army Funds in aid of its expenses. The Financial Secretary to the War Office had for some time been in negotiation with the heads of the various Government Departments, with a view of securing a certain number of Government appointments for pensioners and Reservists, and had obtained some promises that the claims of such men should be favourably considered on the occurrence of vacancies. He earnestly hoped that it might ultimately be found possible to allot a fixed proportion of the various subordinate positions to pensioners and Reservists exclusively; and could assure his hon. and gallant Friend that the War Office would use every endeavour to attain this very desirable object.