§ 33. Colonel YATEasked the Minister of Labour if he can state exactly what are the arrangements made by the Appointments Branch for getting employment for demobilised officers; how many officials are employed in the Appointments Branch; how many of these are demobilised officers; how many demobilised officers have been provided with employment; and who is responsible for the proper carrying out of the work?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir R. Horne)The arrangements made by the Appointments Branch for securing employment for demobilised officers do not admit of detailed description within the limits of an answer. I should be glad to inform the hon. and gallant Member privately of the system. However, the number of administrative officials in the Appointments Department is at present 499; they are almost all demobilised officers. The number of officials is in process of reduction, with the gradual diminution of the Department's work in relation to demobilisation as distinct from appointment and training. Employment is known to have been obtained by the Department for 4,415 officers and men of similar educational qualifications, excluding those on the staff of the Department itself. It is impossible to say how many others have neglected to notify to the Department the fact of having obtained the appointments to which they were recommended. The officer responsible to me for the work of the Department is the Controller-General of Civil Demobilisation and Resettlement.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Department is costing over £400,000 a year in salaries alone?
§ Sir R. HORNENo; the statement of the hon. and gallant Gentleman is entirely inaccurate; as I said to the House not long ago, the cost is very much less.