§ 68. Brigadier-General CROFTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he can give the names of the ex-service men among the new appointments to the Archives Registry; whether it is a fact that, notwithstanding that Mr. Hankinson's dismissal was to enable the employment of ex-service men, the several new officials appointed are non-service men; and whether steps will be taken to substitute ex-service men for these new officials?
Mr. HOPENo new officials have been appointed, but four non-Service men have been transferred to the Archives Registry from the Main Registry in the Ministry. The new and important duties of weeding-out the Ministry's official documents and files with a view to permanent retention or destruction are such as can only be performed by experienced officials. It has not been found possible to secure from the Ministry's staff ex-Service men possessing the necessary experience.
§ Brigadier-General CROFTWho is the ex-Service man appointed in the place of Mr. Hankinson since that was the reason for his dismissal?
Mr. HOPEI have said that no new officials have been appointed, but that four non-Service men have been transferred to the Archives Department from the Main Registry.
§ Brigadier-General CROFTWere they transferred in order to take the place of Mr. Hankinson?
§ Mr. BILLING(Speaking from the Members' Gallery): Is it not the fact that the Ministry are still employed taking into their employment men who did not serve during the War, and having regard to the fact that men who did serve are qualified though unemployed, will the hon. Gentleman now endeavour to search out and find these men and give them employment?
Mr. HOPEMy ears are not quite accustomed to sounds from that quarter, and I did not catch the first part of my hon. Friend's question.
§ 69. Brigadier-General CROFTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether at the time of Mr. 0. J. Hankinson's appointment as superintendent of the archives registry it was understood that the appointment was for a term of years coincident with the existence of that Department as an organisation separate from the Record Office and represented the period that must elapse before the Statute of Limitations could apply to the documents of the nature of contracts which numbered several millions; whether he is aware of the existence of documents at the headquarters of the Ministry of Munitions or elsewhere which bear out this contention; and whether he will at once take the necesary steps either to restore Mr. Hankinson to the position of which he has been deprived or to offer him compensation for wrongful dismissal?
Mr. HOPEI am not aware of the existence of the documents referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend. Mr. Hankinson was not led to believe that his temporary appointment was for a period of any particular duration. I am not prepared to recommend the restoration of Mr. Hankinson to his previous position. He has not been wrongfully dismissed, and there is, therefore, no question of offering him compensation.
§ Brigadier-General CROFTIn view of the fact that none of the reasons that have been given for the dismissal of Mr. Hankinson have been found to be accurate, will the hon. Gentleman himself inquire and re-consider the whole of this case?
Mr. HOPEI am certainly not for a moment prepared to admit the assump- 42 tion upon which the question of my hon. and gallant Friend rests. But, as I have already told him, if he can supply a prima facie case on this or any other subject I will see what can be done. My contention is that Mr. Hankinson was dismissed in the ordinary course of the reduction of staff.