§ 57. Major ASTORasked the President of the Board of Trade whether arrangements have been made for registering every disabled soldier and sailor on or before his discharge from hospital at the Labour Exchange of the district to which he is going?
§ Mr. PRETYMANArrangements were made in May last by the Board of Trade with the War Office and Admiralty in accordance with which a form is sent to the Labour Exchange Department of the Board of Trade in respect of every disabled soldier and sailor discharged during the present War. These forms, which give particulars of the men's industrial qualifications together with the address to which they propose to proceed on discharge, are forwarded to the local Labour Exchanges concerned. A letter is then sent in every case by the local Labour Exchange manager to the man's home address inviting him, if he is in need of assistance in finding employment, to call at the Labour Exchange without delay. Every effort is then made to find suitable employment for any man responding to the invitation. As a result of these arrangements nearly 7,000 disabled soldiers have been provided with employment through the Labour Exchanges. Generally speaking, it has hitherto been found that the demand for these men exceeds the numbers of those who are fit and available to take employ- 2251 ment. I may state for the information of the House that these arrangements are now being extended to include all men discharged from the Army, whatever may be the cause of their discharge.