HC Deb 25 April 1917 vol 92 cc2398-400
79. Mr. HOGGE

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Service whether he is aware of complaints of unanswered letters from his Department; and whether men with qualifications for work in supervising all matter connected with the land are still waiting replies while, among others, private tutors have received posts as Sub-Commissioners?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of NATIONAL SERVICE (Mr. Stephen Walsh)

So far as the general correspondence of the Department is concerned, complaints of unanswered letters relate only to persons who sought appointments, many claiming to have qualifications for supervisory work in such large numbers that delay necessarily took place in dealing with them. This was a temporary condition. If the question is directed to cases dealt with by the Agricultural Section, I am assured that there are no men with qualifications for work in supervising matters connected with the land still awaiting reply, and it is not the case that private tutors have received posts as Agricultural Sub-Commissioners.

Mr. HOGGE

Does my hon. Friend deliberately state that men with agricultural qualifications have made application for the posts of Sub-Commissioners, that they have all been replied to, and that no tutor has been appointed as a Sub-Commissioner?

Mr. WALSH

I stated distinctly that no tutors have received posts as Agricultural Sub-Commissioners. That is the answer to the question.

Mr. MOONEY

If I bring to the hon. Gentleman's attention the case of a gentleman skilled in agricultural work who applied to the National Service Department and was told that the only job they had for him was that of a porter on the Great Northern Railway, would he think that a proper way to deal with the application?

Mr. WALSH

The whole question of placing applicants in employment is not one for the National Service Department. The question asked is "whether men with qualification for work in supervising all matters connected with the land" have made application to the National Service Department and their letters remain unanswered, and the answer is that they are not awaiting replies from the Department.

Mr. MOONEY

My question was as to a gentleman skilled to overlook all agricultural labour who applied to the National Service Department for the post of a Sub-Commissioner and he was asked to take the position of a porter on the Great Northern Railway.

Mr. WALSH

I have tried to explain quite clearly that the placing of the applicants does not concern the National Service Department. The applications come first to it, and replies are sent. The placing of the men rests with another Department. They are two distinct functions.

Mr. DEVLIN

Can the hon. Gentleman state who is responsible for this grotesque performance?

Mr. HOGGE

Does my hon. Friend mean to say that he does not know what becomes of these persons skilled in agriculture, or in what positions they have been placed, after their applications have been acknowledged by his Department and referred to the Ministry of Labour?

Mr. WALSH

The questions submitted by my hon. Friend now do not arise on the question here. It was a categorical question as to whether private tutors had received posts as Sub-Commissioners, and that has been categorically answered in the negative.