§ 72. Mr. HURDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture when he proposes to increase the number of disabled ex-service men, which is now 118, on the temporary staff of his Board in place of women, also temporarily employed, who now number 599?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of AGRICULTURE (Sir Arthur Boscawen)The figures quoted by my hon. Friend refer to the staff employed by the Ministry in April last. Since that date the number of disabled ex-service men on the Ministry's staff has been increased by 47, making a total of 165. The substitution of women by disabled ex-service men is being continued as far as possible, but I may point out that more than half of the women employed by the Ministry, including the typing staff, charwomen, and girl messengers, are engaged on duties which could not in the interests of economy and efficiency be assigned to men. I may add that, so far as purely clerical duties are concerned, the temporary staff of the Ministry includes 255 ex-service men (disabled or otherwise) and 255 women.