§ 48. Colonel GRETTONasked the Prime Minister if he is aware that the Government of the Irish Free State has given or is giving notice to terminate the employment of some 300 British ex-service men taken over whilst employed in Government Departments in Ireland when the Free State was established; that these men in most cases were domiciled in England before they were taken over to serve in the Departments of the British Government in Ireland; that they are now being discharged to make room for ex-soldiers from the Army of the Irish Free State: and that they have no prospect of any employment in Ireland; and whether ho will take steps to offer employment in the British service to such of the British ex-service men now discharged as may apply for such employment?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)I am informed that the total number of temporary civil servants who have been or are being discharged by the Government of the Irish Free State up to the present docs not exceed 100, but I have no information as to how many of these arc ex-service men or what was their domicile prior to their employment by the British Government in Ireland. The reason for these discharges is partly the cessation of the temporary work on which these temporary staffs have been employed, and partly the replacement of temporary staff recruited without examination by permanent staff recruited after competitive examination. Ex-service men discharged are eligible for competitive examinations limited to temporary civil servants in order to give 2051 them an opportunity of entering the permanent service. I regret that it is not possible to extend the recent arrangements regarding ex-service men in British Government service so as to include those who are no longer in that service.
§ Colonel GRETTONAm I to understand that the British Government denies all responsibility in the case of these men?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORENo, it is clear in my answer that when the job ceases to exist their temporary employment comes to an end, but they will, as in this country, have an opportunity of sitting for an examination so that they can become permanent.
§ Colonel GRETTONDoes my hon. Friend undertake that these persons discharged from the Government in the Free State will have the same opportunity of employment as ex-service men who have held appointments in Great Britain?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe difficulty there is that I understand a large number of ex-service men—there is no reason to suppose that all these who are now being discharged in Dublin are ex-service men—who have had to be discharged from British Government offices in this country, have a greater claim.
§ Colonel GRETTONWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the question of finding employment for these discharged ex-service men from Ireland?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe question of the employment of ex-British service men in the employment of the Irish Free State Government by this Government is a matter obviously for the Treasury rather than for myself.