63. Sir F. HALLasked the Lord Privy Seal if he is aware that the Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue Departments employ a much smaller percentage of disabled ex-service men than any other Government Department; and if, considering the great amount of unemployment which still exists amongst disabled ex-service men, he will at once give instructions for inquiries to be made as to the possibility of utilising the services of a larger proportion of men who have been injured owing to their duties in defence of this country in the Great War?
§ The FINANCTAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Baldwin)I am aware that in the Departments in question, owing to the character of the work, disabled ex-Service men form a smaller percentage of the total staff than in a number of other Government Departments, but I would point out that the? percentage, which must necessarily vary as between Departments, is in both cases substantially in excess of that which the Government has asked employers generally to adopt. The question of the extended employment of ex-Service men, whether disabled or otherwise, in these two Departments, is being further considered in accordance with the recommendations of Lord Lytton's Committee on the appointment of ex-Service men to [...]osts in the Civil Service.
Sir F. HALLConsidering the large number of these men who are unemployed, would it not be a good thing if these Departments would endeavour to follow the example of other Departments of State, which employ three times the number of men that the Treasury do; and will the right hon. Gentleman have inquiries made into the matter?
§ Mr. BALDWINIt is very much easier to get a large percentage in Departments which have a large temporary staff, than in those Departments the large proportion of whose staff is permanent. The figures as regards temporary staff are not at all so bad as my hon. and gallant Friend would imagine.
Sir F. HALLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware the Members can judge of the figures only by the Papers placed before them?