§ 36. Viscount CURZONasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that many ex-service men, many of them disabled, employed in the Civil Service on a temporary basis, are either under notice of discharge or appear to be likely to receive it shortly; whether most of these cases are apparent in the Ministry of Pensions; whether, at, the same time, women, non-service men, and conscientious objectors are being retained; and whether he will be prepared to make a complete statement of the policy of the Government on this question at an early date, in view of the anxiety now felt by all ex-service men similarly affected with regard to their future?
Mr. GRAHAMI would refer to the answers given on the 6th March to the hon. Member for Finchley (Mr. T. A. Robertson), and the hon. and learned Member for Ealing (Sir H. Nield), and to the hon. and gallant Member for Chertsey (Lieut.-Colonel Sir P. Richardson), and the hon. and gallant Member for Central Nottingham (Captain Berkeley), of which I am sending the noble Lord copies.
§ Viscount CURZONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that not one of the answers to which he has alluded has given the least satisfaction to ex-service men, who see women and conscientious objectors retained while ex-service men are discharged?
Mr. GRAHAMThat is not the case. The replies previously given refer to the work being done under the Lytton Committee's Report and the Southborough Committee, and I am quite unable to agree to the suggestion of the noble Lord.
§ Viscount CURZONMay I ask whether the answer refers to the men who were given notice on the 1st March?
Mr. GRAHAMNo, Sir; as I understand it, it covers what has been done under the two Reports. The cases now noted are cases we are considering, and for whom we are doing our best to find employment.
Sir F. HALLIs it not a fact that some of these conscientious objectors are being retained, and ex-service men—in some cases disabled men—are being discharged?
Mr. GRAHAMNo, Sir. The position is that the Report of the Select Committee dealing with the matter is being carried out. As regards the small number of conscientious objectors, the matter still remains to be considered.
64. Sir F. HALLasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that there are a very large number of ex-service men engaged temporarily as civil servants; and whether, considering that in some thousands of cases these men have carried out their duties in an entirely satisfactory manner for periods ranging from three to five years, have proved their efficiency, and are fulfilling the same duties as civil servants who have passed the usual examination, he will give instructions that as largo a number as possible of the competent officers may be transferred to the established list without examination as and when vacancies occur?
Mr. GRAHAMI have been asked to reply. As the hon. and gallant Member is aware, the absorption of temporary ex-service clerks in available vacancies in the permanent clerical class has been dealt with on lines recommended by the Lytton Committee. The question what, if any, modification is necessary is now referred to the Southborough Committee, who have already issued two Reports, to which effect has been given and whose further Report is awaited.
Sir F. HALLWill the hon. Gentleman ask the Committee to hurry up their Report, so that we may know exactly where these men stand?
§ Mr. MASTERMANConsidering the widespread dismay on this matter, will the hon. Gentleman agree to suspend this 1903 question until the Southborough Committee has reported; and may I ask whether there is not the ordinary means of expediting the Report of such a Committee, such as those which were adopted by the hon. Member's predecessor?
Mr. GRAHAMThere have been circumstances of illness, which have made our task a little difficult, but I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that we are doing everything in our power to find situations for these men.