§ 46. Colonel YATEasked the Prime Minister if he will issue a circular to all Government Departments, county, borough, and district councils, public societies and institutions, railway companies, etc., informing them that the Postmaster-General and the Secretary of State for the Home Department have adopted the principle of filling not less than half of all appointments, such as messengers, postmen, watchers, warders, park-keepers, attendants, porters, and similar situations, with ex-soldiers and sailors of good character, and suggesting that the same principle may be adopted by all other Government Departments and by all municipal and public bodies throughout the United Kingdom?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)As regards Government Departments, the desirability of employing ex-soldiers and sailors in situations for which they are suitable is well known, and I do not think it necessary to issue a new circular on the subject. I think if local authorities, public societies 449 and institutions, railway companies, are approached with this object, which has my full sympathy, steps should be taken by the voluntary associations formed to promote the employment of ex-soldiers and sailors rather than by the Government.