§ 21. Sir A. HOLBROOKasked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow as representing the First Commissioner of Works whether, seeing that 340 non-service men and 554 women are employed in his Department, he will consider the substitution, where possible, of ex-service men who are being dismissed from other Departments and are qualified for the duties?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe numbers given are those employed as at 1st January, 1922. The numbers as at 1st March employed in a temporary capacity are 273 non-service men, and 527 women. Steps are being taken to substitute, where possible, ex-service for non-service men, provided candidates with the experience and standard of qualifications required can be obtained, but I should like to point out that the percentage of ex-service men already employed is high, namely, 80 per cent. Of the 527 women employés, seven are ex-service, 508 are typists, shorthand typists, charwomen, etc., engaged on work specially appropriate to women, four are retained owing to the non-availability of ex-service men possessing qualifications as comptometer operators, three are retained on compassionate grounds (two of these are about to leave), three are employed on work which will terminate shortly. The substitution of the remaining two will be undertaken as soon as possible.