§ MR. CLAUDE HAY (Shoreditch, Hoxton)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will render every assistance to boy clerks in their efforts to secure suitable outside employment; and for this means will he cause an employment register containing full particulars of thoroughly trustworthy boy clerks, who are approaching the age of 20, together with the names of the firms who are willing to employ such boys, to be kept at each office in the United Kingdom where boy clerks are employed, in view of the fact that a similar plan has been instrumental in obtaining employment for large numbers of telegraph messengers in the Post Office, who are situated in a somewhat similar position to boy clerks in the Civil Service.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. RUNCIMAN,) DewsburyI fear that it would be impracticable to give effect to the hon. Member's proposal in its present form. But the Civil Service Commissioners, who keep the register of boy clerks, will be ready to answer inquiries from employers as to the qualifications of those about to be discharged.
§ MR. CLAUDE HAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say why?