§ 72. Mr. J. HARRISasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many times the standing joint committee for the employment of ex-service men has met this year; whether any Report of the work done by this committee will be published; and, if so, when it is expected that the Report will be available?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Miss Bondfield)I have been asked to take this question, and as the reply is somewhat long, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Major HORE-BELISHAHow many times has this committee met?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI think that it would be better for the hon. and gallant Member to wait for the long reply, which contains a number of figures.
§ Major HORE-BELISHACan we know whether the Report of this committee will be published?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI would like notice of that question.
§ Mr. J. HARRISThat is in the Question.
§ Following is the answer:
§ I am not sure to what committee the hon. Member refers. The standing joint committee for ex-service questions, representative of the Service Departments, the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Pensions and the British Legion, has met three times this year, the last meeting being on the 27th June. It does not publish reports of its proceedings.
§ Another committee, known as the Committee on the Re-employment of Ex-Service Men, having representatives of the Ministry of Labour, employers, trade unions and certain ex-service men's organisations, published an interim report on 12th August, 1920 (Cd. 951/1920). This committee last met in August, 1922, and in the absence of any specific items of business which it might usefully consider it is not at present the intention to call it together again.
§ As the hon. Member is probably aware, the question of the employment of disabled ex-service men is dealt with by the King's Roll National Council, which meets periodically under the Chairmanship of Field-Marshal Earl Haig.