§ 76. Lieut.-Colonel POWNALLasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many non-service men and how many women are employed in the Stationery Office Department in a tem- 1722 porary capacity; and what steps he is taking to secure that the posts held by such personnel shall be filled by ex-service men who have been discharged from Government Departments and are now awaiting re-allocation?
Mr. YOUNGExcluding industrial staff, there are 59 non-service men, of whom 19 are under notice of discharge, and 323 women, of whom 6 are under notice of discharge, employed in a temporary capacity in the Stationery Office. Thirty-one of the non-service men are employed upon technical duties and are gradually being replaced by permanent officers or discharged on reduction of staff; of the women, 300 are not replaceable by ex-service men, being mainly typists, duplicating machine operators and charwomen. The position of the remaining non-service personnel is periodically under review by the Departmental Substitution Committee, and further substitution is being effected as the exigencies of the work permit.
Sir F. HALLConsidering that there is such a large number of ex-service men out of employment, cannot they be used for the purpose of typewriting?
Mr. YOUNGEvery opportunity is taken to find employment of that sort. I recently arranged, in connection with such questions as those raised by the hon. Member, for a monthly conference between the Joint Substitution Board and the representatives of the organisations of ex-service men and of women, and I find that this arrangement is working very smoothly in order to overcome difficulties and questions of this sort.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should give other hon. Members a chance.