§ 68. Mr. BILLINGasked the Minister of National Service which Department of His Majesty's Government decline to provide a position on his recommendation for Mr. Solomon Monossche, of 57, Warrington Crescent; whether subsequent to such refusal he called for a list of the employés of that Department, and instructed that twelve men thereon should be dismissed or removed from that Department; if he will state what reasons he had for so dismissing these men; whether subsequent to such action he sent a letter to that Department expressing the hope that it might be possible for the Army Council to reconsider the question of employing Mr. Solomon Monossche, of 57, Warrington Crescent; whether he has had a reply from the Army Council in this connection, and, if so, to what effect: and whether the recommendation of Mr. Solomon Monossche by the Ministry was to provide him with a Government position and thus release him from the military authorities, who had just called him up after repeated exemptions?
§ Mr. BECKThe facts are not as stated by the hon. Member. Mr. Monossche, who possesses special linguistic, qualifications, applied for employment in the Postal Censor's Department of the War Office, and his calling up notice was suspended pending the result of that application. The decision to release for military service the twelve men referred to by the hon. Member was taken by the War Office, and not by, or at the instance of, the Minister of National Service. This decision had no reference to Mr. Monossche's application. I understand that, in fact, ten of the twelve persons released were in a category higher than Grade 3. In view of Mr. Monossche's medical category (Grade 3), it was considered that if employed on work of national importance, 1353 for which his unusual linguistic qualifications particularly fitted him, he would be rendering more useful service than he could perform if in the Army. In these circumstances, I understand that Mr. Monoasche's application is likely to receive favourable consideration.
§ Mr. BILLINGIs Mr. Solomon Monossche a British subject, and, if not, does the hon. Gentleman consider it desirable that be should be in the censorship of the War Office?
§ Mr. BECKI understand Mr. Monossche is a Frenchman, who speaks seven languages, and is, therefore, a very useful man.
§ Mr. BILLINGAre we to understand that there are no British subjects who are linguists who could possibly be employed in this work?