§ 40. Lieut.-Colonel JAMESasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that much concern is being expressed at the terms of the Southborough Committee Report, in which no recommendations are made in regard to disabled ex-service men or messengers; and whether, before the Report of the Committee is adopted, the House will have an opportunity of debating it?
Mr. GRAHAMI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply that I gave on the 24th June to the hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Sir W. de Frece), from which he will see that the Government have already decided to adopt the recommendations contained in the final report of the Southborough Committee.
§ Lieut.-Colonel JAMESHas the hon. Gentleman received reports expressing concern, and is he satisfied that the Southborough Committee is strictly impartial? If he is not so satisfied, will he put in force some steps which will enable this House to decide on this Report?
Mr. GRAHAMYes, we have received many representations, but I have no hesitation in saying that, taking the situation as a whole, the only possible course was to adopt the recommendations of the Committee.
§ Mr. HOGGECan the hon. Gentleman say how a Government, of which he is a Member—and he, among others, is pledged to promotion without examination—can adopt a Report which only provides some 5,000 places by examination?
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs this not another case where the Prime Minister had not the facts before him when he gave this pledge?
§ Lieut.-Colonel JAMESIs the Prime Minister aware that it is alleged that one of the Members of that Committee was violently partisan?
§ Sir HENRY CRAIKIs the hon. Gentleman not aware that by the promotion of these temporary men very great hardship has been caused to men who served in the War, who subsequently passed high examination, are still awaiting appointments in vain, and have been kept from appointments by the promotion of these temporary men?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAre any of these temporary ex-service civil servants still being dismissed?
Mr. GRAHAMI should think if the work of the Department came to an end, additional men may be dismissed, but I would remind the right hon. Gentleman that, by the policy we adopted some time ago, we prevented the dismissal of very large numbers.
§ Sir H. CRAIKIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the question discussed by the Southborough Committee was very much between those persons I have referred to and the temporary men? I think I am entitled to have an answer with regard to the harm done.