§ 17. Captain LOSEBYasked the Pensions Minister if his attention has been called to the action of the Peterborough War Pensions Committee, who recently appointed an ex-political agent to the post of assistant secretary at £250 a year, an assistant lady clerk at £120 a year, and finally advertised for a junior shorthand clerk and typist, preferably a discharged soldier, at 25s. a week; if he is aware that in many instances well-remunerated posts under war pensions committees have been given to male civilians whose war service gave them no special claim to consideration; and if he will consider the advisability of issuing instructions that the more highly remunerative posts under war pensions committees shall, where possible, be reserved for ex-soldiers?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSAll new appointments of principal officers are now subject to my approval, as provided by the Regulations issued under the Act of 1918, but the post of assistant secretary to the Peterborough committee was filled before the Act was passed, and cannot therefore be brought within the Regulations. With regard to the other appoint- 1075 ments mentioned, I would remind the hon. and gallant Member that the control which I exercise over the selection of local staff must of necessity be confined to the appointment of principal officers. It would be impracticable to regulate minor appointments from headquarters, and I must rely upon the committees themselves to be guided by the same principles of selection as are observed by the Ministry in the approval of the appointments submitted under the Regulations.
§ Captain LOSEBYWill my right hon. Friend consider the advisability of definitely limiting these appointments within a reasonable period of time to ex-soldiers?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThroughout, in the appointment of all principal officers, that is done. In regard to minor officers, it is quite impossible for headquarters to attempt to dictate to some 2,000 local committees and sub-committees throughout the country. I must rely on the local committees themselves to observe the quite proper rule that ex-Service officers and men ought to have priority, and I believe I can rely on the local committees in general to carry out that rule.
§ Captain LOSEBYWould it not be possible to issue a Regulation operative after a certain date?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSSo long as I have to rely, and I do have to rely, upon the voluntary work of local committees the degree of interference by headquarters must be limited.
§ Mr. ROSEMay I ask if any qualifying test is put to candidates for these appointments, or whether they are simply appointed without any inquiry as to their fitness or antecedents?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSSo far as local committees are concerned, they have to rely, naturally, on the work of their permanent officials, and I rely upon the local committees to choose suitable people. Their work would break down if they did not. As regards those that I approve, the principal officers, I require to be satisfied that they have qualifications which enable them to fulfil the offices to which they are appointed.
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSNot applicable to everyone, but if the local 1076 committee say they cannot find a suitable officer, then I have already made arrangements for the training of a suitable officer, and in the course of that training he is examined before being put forward as a suitable person for appointment by the local committee.
§ Mr. CAIRNSIs it a fact that they have to have five certificates before they get an appointment? I have a list of cases here.
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI really do not know to what my hon. Friend refers.
§ Mr. CAIRNSI have a list of cases. There is one—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should give notice of the question.