§ 56. Lieut. - Colonel ARCHER - SHEEasked the Prime Minister whether, under the reconstruction scheme of the Civil Service Commission, the age limit for ex-officers and men is twenty-eight years in Class 1 and twenty-four in the junior appointments; and whether he is aware that those thus disqualified from competing by reason of age are in the majority of cases those who have greater responsibilities and who also have the most difficulty in securing employment?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe age limit for the reconstruction competitions have been most carefully considered and are so framed as to admit all ex-officers and men who would have been within the normal age limits in 1914or in any subsequent year since the outbreak of war. Those who were over the normal age limits in 1914 had had their opportunity of competing for Civil Service appointment before the War and, in view of the comparatively small number of appointments which require to be filled, I fear it is not possible to give such men a further opportunity.