§ 38. Mr. BARNESasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that many of the officers of the Labour Exchanges have recently, through the exigencies of the service, been prevented from completing their full holiday period; and if he will consider the question with a view to some financial recompense for those concerned and an increase of staff, so as to prevent overtime and forfeiture of holidays in the future?
Mr. RUNCIMANOwing to the exceptional pressure caused by the outbreak of war, members of the Labour Exchanges and unemployment insurance service, in common with members of other branches of the Board of Trade and of the Civil Service generally, have, in a number of cases, not been able to take the usual allowance of annual leave. It is, I think, generally recognised that every member of the Civil Service must, until the War is over, be prepared to make considerable sacrifices with regard to this matter. The allowance to an officer of annual leave is in all cases subject to the exigencies of the service, and I fear that it would not be possible to grant a financial recompense to the officers who have been prevented by the present abnormal conditions from taking their full annual leave. I take this opportunity of expressing my cordial appreciation of the ready and 709 cheerful manner in which the officers of this and other Departments of the Board have responded to the exceptional calls upon them.