§ 68. Mr. LYNCHasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has sanctioned an advertisement issued from the Inspection Department, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, asking for temporary assistant chemists, who must have had a thorough training in inorganic and organic chemistry and must be accurate analysts, the wages offered being £2 0s. 6d. per week; whether preference has been given, as stated in the advertisement, to university graduates or members of the Institute of Chemists; whether any particular universities are favoured above others; whether any additional scientific or humanistic qualification will also have weight in regard to the choice of candidates; and whether all the temporary assistant chemists required have already been obtained?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe advertisement, referred to by the hon. Member was issued with the sanction of the War Office. The fact of an applicant being a university graduate or member of the Institute of 31 Chemists will be taken into consideration when dealing with the applications, but no preference will be given to any particular university. Any additional scientific or humanistic qualification will also be given weight in making the selection. No appointments have yet been made, but there are considerably more applications than there are vacancies.
§ Mr. LYNCHIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these are gentlemen of high scientific attainments, whose salaries are less than those of carpenters, even those engaged on rough work? Are they not actually treated by the Department as if they were on the scale of ordinary workers?
§ Mr. TENNANTYes, Sir. The scale of pay for this scientific work is ridiculously low, but then there are considerably more applications for these posts than there are vacancies, and consequently we do not consider ourselves justified in increasing the emoluments.
§ Mr. LYNCHWill the right hon. Gentleman take into account the fact that these applications are really due to patriotic motives, and that he is doing a disservice to the country by reducing the status of scientific appointments?
§ Mr. TENNANTI am not aware of that, but I am aware that the scale of pay for this class is uniform, and has not been altered or increased.
§ Mr. LYNCHWill the right hon. Gentleman not take into account the economic side in this respect, that it is impossible to obtain men for the permanent staff from those engaged in teaching?
§ Mr. TENNANTI am aware that these are temporary appointments.