HC Deb 21 July 1924 vol 176 cc871-2
40. Lieut.-Colonel JAMES

asked 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. GRAHAM

I 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 JAMES

Has 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. GRAHAM

Yes, 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. HOGGE

Can 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. GRAHAM

I am afraid I cannot agree with my hon. Friend's description of my views.

Mr. PRINGLE

Is this not another case where the Prime Minister had not the facts before him when he gave this pledge?

Lieut.-Colonel JAMES

Is the Prime Minister aware that it is alleged that one of the Members of that Committee was violently partisan?

Mr. SPEAKER

Order, order. Such a suggestion ought not to be made in a supplementary question.

Sir HENRY CRAIK

Is 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?

Mr. SPEAKER

We really cannot now discuss that.

Dr. MACNAMARA

Are any of these temporary ex-service civil servants still being dismissed?

Mr. GRAHAM

I 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. CRAIK

Is 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.

Mr. SPEAKER

It would take too much time now to discuss that point.

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