§ Colonel Sir H. GREENWOOD (by Private Notice)asked the Minister of National Service if he will state to what extent the List of Certified Occupations (R. 136) is regarded as work of national importance for the purpose of the concessions to men who have been discharged from the forces as disabled, and whether any special consideration can be given to the cases of disabled men to whom their former employers have paid wages while in the Army with a view to their return to their former employment?
§ Mr. BECKEmployment in any of the industries mentioned in the List of Certified Occupations (R. 136) is regarded as work of national importance for the purpose of the concessions to disabled men embodied in paragraph 4 (b) of the First Schedule to the Military Service (No. 2) Act, 1918. This covers all occupations in those industries, and not merely the particular occupations specified in the list.
With regard to the second part of my hon. Friend's question, the Minister of 342 National Service has decided that such cases are entitled to a special measure of consideration, and that in any case where an employer has paid to a former employé either part wages or other allowance while serving with the armed forces, the employé if he returns to his former employment shall be treated as if he were engaged in work of national importance.