13. Mr. DOYLEasked the Pensions Minister if he will state the number of medical men permanently employed in his Department who have not served in His Majesty's forces overseas during the War, the number so employed who have served overseas, how many who have not served overseas now hold high administrative rank, including deputy commissioners of medical services and assessors, the number of medical men who have applied for permanent appointments, and how many have been granted; if he is aware that many, if not most, of the well-paid posts have never been advertised in the medical or other Press; if he can give any information as to how these posts were filled; if the official in charge of the Appointments Department of the Ministry of Pensions 1867 (Director - General's Department, 14, Great Smith Street, S.W.), Dr. R. M'Queen, has served overseas in His Majesty's forces; and if he will take steps to see that ex-Royal Army Medical Corps and naval medical officers get preference for all appointments before the appointments are made permanent?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSIn reply to that part of the question which relates to Dr. M'Queen, I may inform my hon. Friend that this officer was mobilised on the first day of the War and served, continuously until four months after the, signing of the Armistice, when he was invalided with a 30 per cent, disability resulting from service in France, Belgium, and Macedonia. In appointments to the; Medical Services Division of the Ministry it is the invariable practice to give preference to men who have seen war service overseas.
The answer to the remaining parts of the question is of such length and involves; so many figures that I am circulating it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the remaining portion of the Answer:
§ The medical officers of the Ministry are almost without exception, serving on temporary engagements terminable at a; month's notice. There are only three permanent officials, of whom one has served overseas.
§ There are fifty-nine temporary officers who have not served overseas, of whom forty-eight have served at home, and others with the British Red Cross or similar units.
§ Since 1st April between 1,600 and 1,700 applicants have been interviewed. The present number of salaried appointments is 244. As will be seen from these figures, the material for selection for the few posts available has been so great that advertisement has been unnecessary.
§ Each applicant is personally interviewed, and his suitability is carefully considered in the light of his former service, and general qualification and experience, special attention being given to his experience of the kind of work at which it is proposed to employ him. Since 1st April no applicant has been favourably considered unless he has had war service; in the Navy, Army, or Air Force.
§ 14. Mr. ROSEasked the Minister of Pensions if he will state the grades and 1868 average salaries of the 283 officials removed from his Department during the month of September; and how many, if any, of them were transferred to other Government Departments?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe net reduction in staff at Headquarters in September was 497. Against this the staff in the Regions and in medical institutions showed a net increase of 214, giving a net reduction for the whole Ministry of 283. The reduction was practically entirely in the clerical grades with wages averaging about 46s. a week. No transfers were made to other Government Departments.