§ 84. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Minister of Labour how many discharged disabled officers are on the live list of the appointments branch of the Ministry of Labour; how many of these have not been placed in employment owing to their disability; and how many owing to their lack of the necessary experience?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Bridgeman)There are at present 1,130 ex-officers registered with the Appointments Department of the Ministry, who are available for immediate employment. The great majority of these have been put into communication with employers at least once, many of them more than once; and it is probable that some of them have obtained employment, as it frequently happens that successful applicants do not notify the Department. It is impossible to say how many have failed through disability and how many through of qualifications; but 570 cases are known in which employers have rejected ex-officer applicants and 656 cases in which the applicant has refused the post offered, usually on the ground of salary. There is no doubt that disability and lack of qualifications both contribute to the difficulty of finding employment in a large number of cases, and the experience of the Department shews clearly the value of a regular course of training or instruction in overcoming both these obstacles.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKIn view of the fact that there are only fifty disabled officers on the list, does he not think the position profoundly unsatisfactory?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThat is under the pensions scheme. There are a great many more under the Ministry of Labour scheme.