HC Deb 10 November 1920 vol 134 cc1164-5
28. Viscount CURZON

asked the Minister of Labour if any agreement has been made with the Officers' Association to prevent overlapping between the Association and the Appointments Department; and whether he will give the terms of such agreement and state when it is to take effect?

The MINISTER of LABOUR (Dr. Macnamara)

Yes, Sir. I will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the arrangements which have been mutually agreed.

The following are the details promised:

The terms of the agreement which has been reached between the Appointments Department of the Ministry of Labour and the Officers' Association are as follows:

  1. (1) The work of finding appointments for ex-officers shall be done solely by the Appointments Department, the Officers' Association confining itself to its other activities of relief work, and transferring its employment branch records to the Appointments Department.
  2. (2) A representative of the Officers' Association shall be appointed to each District Headquarters Office to interview hardship cases, disburse small sums of money in cases of immediate necessity, and receive complaints on all matters.
  3. (3) A military member shall be appointed by the Officers' Association to each panel of business men who interview applicants regarding appointments.

In the provinces, where no organisation or machinery for dealing with employment has yet been set up by the Officers' Association, this agreement is to be put into effect at once; but in London, where the Officers' Association find the position is more difficult, the necessary transfer will be made as soon as possible. It has been agreed, however, that in London, as well as in the country, the Officers' Association will cease forthwith to canvas for vacancies. Employers are asked, therefore, in future to send all vacancies to the Appointments Department Office at Clement's Inn, or to the local district director; and all officers applying to the Officers' Association for appointments will be referred to the Appointments Department. The actual handing over of all papers will take place as soon as possible, but as all vacancies will be sent to the Department, any temporary delay in such handing over will not interfere with the practical merging of the appointments work, as the placings by the Officers' Association are about 35 a week, as compared with 500 by the Department.