§ 36. Captain GEEasked the Minister of Labour how many non-ex-service men and women are employed at the headquarters of the Training Department of the Ministry of Labour; and, seeing that the continued employment of these men and women is causing great dissatisfaction amongst the trainees, will he state the reason why the retention of these men and women is considered necessary?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAOut of a staff of 85 men employed at the headquarters of the training department, seven temporary non-ex-service men have been retained because they possess exceptional qualifications and experience which are necessary in the interests of the trainees under the industrial training scheme. Qualified ex-service substitutes are not available. These cases are reviewed by me personally at frequent intervals. There are no women (except typists) on the headquarters staff employed on the industrial training scheme. But there are 17 non-ex-service women employed exclusively on the training of War widows' and disabled nurses and on the homecraft training schemes of the Central Committee on Women's Training and Employment.
§ Mr. RAPERIs it not a fact that there is at least one woman employed in the Establishment Officer's Department and three in the Controller's Department who are graded as typists in order that they may be retained but who are employed entirely on clerical duties, and he is aware that while ex-service men in no way object to the employment of hardship cases or of women being retained for purely women's work, cases of the nature referred to cause very serious dissatisfaction amongst the ex-service men.
§ Viscountess ASTORIs it not sometimes in the interest of the ex-servicemen to keep women who are thoroughly qualified for the job?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI make myself personally responsible for frequent periodical reviews of these cases and ex-service men get every preference. I will look into the cases the hon. Member has put, but I can assure him that every care is taken. As a matter of fact I have the figure before me of the total male temporary staff of which at present 98.95 per cent. are ex-service men.