§ 50. Mr. HAYDAYasked the Prime Minister whether he was aware that, although there were now available ex-Service permanent Civil servants, willing and able to perform higher duties, many officials of Government offices were still retaining temporary women clerks as private secretaries and heads of branches; and whether he would have inquiries made into the matter?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Chamberlain)I shall be obliged if the hon. Member will communicate directly with the Ministers in charge of the Departments to which he refers, but if he does not wish to take 1313 this course and prefers to send me full particulars I will take the duty of inquiry upon myself.
§ 51. Mr. HAYDAYasked the Prime Minister whether he was aware that in some Government offices permanent Civil servants who volunteered at the outbreak of war had returned to find that, in their absence, junior men who remained behind had been promoted above them, or had been granted allowances for duties which the returned man was required to perform without extra remuneration; whether he was aware that great dissatisfaction existed among the returned men because of this injustice; and whether he would cause inquiries to be made with a view to giving the men who volunteered equal treatment to that accorded to the men who remained?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe allocation of promotions and acting promotions in any Department rests with the head of the Department, and any representations on the subject which the hon. Member wishes to make should be addressed to the Minister concerned.