§ 32. Mr. HURDasked what steps have been taken to carry out the promise given by the Prime Minister on 22nd March last, and by himself, that use should be made of the post offices throughout the country to advertise for public information the names of firms in each area who are employing ex-soldiers in the proportions entitling those firms to inclusion in the King's Roll; and, if these promises are still unfulfilled, what is the cause of the delay?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAArrangements for this purpose are in hand, and I hope it will be possible to exhibit the lists at an early date. The delay has been due to the time necessarily occupied in preparing the large number of separate lists that are required. Everything possible will be done to hasten the publication of the lists.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAYes. They will deal with the locality in each case.
§ 35. Mr. SUGDENasked how many firms are now on the King's Roll under the National Scheme for the Employment of Disabled ex-Service Men; how many disabled men are employed by these firms; how many are still awaiting employment; and what steps are being taken to extend the national scheme?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe number of firms on the King's National Roll on 2168 21st June, 1920, was 17,811; the total number of disabled men employed by these firms was 154,569. The corresponding figures for 31st December, 1919, were 9,524 firms employing 89,619 disabled men. The number of disabled ex-service men shown as unemployed on the registers of the Employment Exchanges in Great Britain on 11th June, 1920, was 19,235, the corresponding number on 31st December last being 35,079. The Local Employment Committees and officials of my Department are at present engaged on a canvass of all employers who have not yet enrolled under the National Scheme. I am also in communication with my right hon. Friends the Minister of Health and the Secretary for Scotland with a view to ascertaining the possibility of enrolling more local authorities under the National Scheme, as I feel that this is an avenue of employment which ought to offer further vacancies for disabled men. I am glad to say that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has agreed that the name of His Majesty's Treasury, on behalf of Government Departments, shall at once be placed on the King's National Roll. It has also been decided that in placing Government contracts preference shall be given by Contracting Departments to firms on the King's National Roll.
§ Captain LOSEBYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that disabled ex-service men are being rather freely discharged at present from His Majesty's Civil Service, and will he look into the matter?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIndeed I will. I should say that they come last in the detailed scheme. They have a preference for retention in the detailed scheme in regard to discharges from Government service.