§ 44. Mr. RAPERasked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of applications which have been received by the Appointments Board since its establishment; how many of these applications applied to demobilised officers and men; and how many of the total number of applicants have been found appointments by the Ministry of Labour?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe total number of applications received by the Appointments Department since its establishment in April, 1918, amounts to 139,000.
This figure includes:
In the total figure, 139,000, are included 14,217 applications from officers and men who were discharged or demobilised at the time of making their applications. It is impossible to give an exact figure as to those for whom new appointmtents have been found by the Department, as a number of applicants fail to notify the Department when they have secured an appointment.
- (1) Applications from serving officers and men for demobilisation on the grounds of employment awaiting them.
- (2) Applications for training from serving and demobilised officers and men.
- (3) Applications for new appointments.
Four thousand one hundred and thirty are known to have been found new appointments by the Department. Five thousand five hundred and thirty one officers and men are now registered on the books of the Department as immediately available for appointments.
The new appointments obtained have averaged over 200 per week for the last ten weeks, the figure for last week being 272.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these figures show that only one out of thirty of the applicants has really got some kind of post? In view of that, will the right hon. Gentleman look into it himself?
§ Sir R. HORNEI do not at all agree with the interpretation my hon. Friend has put upon the answer.
§ Mr. HOGGEBut only 4,000 are known to have got appointments out of 139,000? Is there no way within the possibility of my right hon. Friend's Department in 2489 which he can ascertain whether the men have got appointments, and give the House some information as to the success of the applicants?
§ Sir R. HORNEMy hon. Friend is misconstruing these figures, as many other people have done. Out of the 139,000 there are many applications, not for appointments, but for training, and some for opportunities of demobilisation. Out of 14,000 over 4,000 have received appointments. There are at present only 5,500 on the books of the Department as immediately available for appointments.
§ Major E. WOODCan the right hon. Gentleman give any estimate of what it has cost to place one individual in an appointment?
§ Sir R. HORNEI am afraid that is a calculation I cannot give off-hand.