97. Sir F. HALLasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether girls of 16 to 17 years of age are still being appointed as writing assistants for purely routine work in the Civil Service at a wage of about £2 6s. per week; and whether, seeing that work of this description could be carried out in many cases by disabled ex-service men, he will forthwith have this matter inquired into with a view to stopping the discharge of competent ex-service men who, in a considerable number of instances, are receiving notice to terminate positions which they have held to the satisfaction of their superior officers for periods ranging from three to five years?
Mr. GRAHAMThe initial inclusive rates of pay of writing assistants in London appointed from open competition is not as stated in the question, but is as follows:
With the increase in Civil Service bonus on the 1st March, these rates will become 32s. 5d., 36s. and 39s. 7d. respectively. As regards the latter part of the question, I would refer to the answer which I gave on the 25th February to the hon. Member for Acton and the hon. and gallant Member for Lewisham East, of which I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy.
- 31s. 6d. at age 16,
- 35s. at 17, and
- 38s. 6d. at age 18 or over.
Sir F. HALLWill the hon. Gentleman take every possible step to see that the services of these men are utilised instead of bringing in new recruits to do work that these men are capable of carrying out, especially disabled ex-service men?
Mr. GRAHAMI can assure the hon. and gallant Member that that is the policy of the Government in the matter. But as regards the writing assistants, I would say that they are engaged on duty to which it would be quite impossible in many cases to put ex-service men.
Sir F. HALLWhere ex-service men are capable of carrying out this routine work, will the hon. Gentleman give his sympathetic consideration to the matter?
§ Major COHENWhen will the Southborough Committee, which is inquiring into all these questions, be likely to report?
Mr. GRAHAMWe have that under consideration, and I hope to be able to make a definite statement at a very early date.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONWill the hon. Gentleman give a pledge that no further dismissals of ex-service men will take place until after the Southborough Committee have reported?
Mr. GRAHAMIt would be very difficult to give a pledge of that kind, because the work of many Departments is either terminating or being largely reduced at the present time. We do everything in our power to give preference to disabled ex-service men. Beyond that I could not go.