§ 66. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Minister of Labour whether his Department has declared its willingness to make arrangements for the training of disabled ex-service men as shorthand-typists; and whether anything has yet been done in this direction?
§ Sir M. BARLOWA number of ex-service men have been, and are being, trained to commercial subjects, including, in many instances, shorthand-writing and typewriting. It is not thought advisable to train men as shorthand-typists only, as the prospects of their being satisfactorily employed subsequently are not favourable. A few men have been trained as press reporters.
§ 67. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that cases have occurred in which women have been substituted in various Departments, have then received a training grant from the Ministry of Labour, and, on conclusion of such training, have been reposted to Departments in the capacity of shorthand-typists; and why a similar arrangement could not be made immediately applicable to ex-service men?
§ Sir M. BARLOWA few women discharged from Government Departments have received a training grant from the Central Committee on Women's Training and Employment, and have subsequently obtained Government posts as shorthand-typists in open competition. There was no arrangement when they were dis- 488 charged that they should be re-employed as typists. As is the usual practice of commercial firms, shorthand-typing is generally regarded by Government Departments, in accordance with the Lytton Report, as being work proper to women.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINHas the opinion of the men in question been asked?