§ 46. Colonel VAUGHAN-MORGANasked the Prime Minister whether he will postpone any action in regard to the Department of Overseas Trade until he has received and considered the Report of the Balfour Committee which has taken evidence on the value and efficiency of that Department?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Churchill)My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to the reply given on the 4th May to the hon. Member for Tamworth.
69. Sir F. HALLasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, owing to the decision of the Government to abolish the Ministry of Transport, the Department of Overseas Trade, and the Mines Department, a considerable number of unestablished officers, the majority of whom served in the Great War, have received a month's notice to terminate their employment; and whether, instead of discharging these officers, who are in many instances between 40 and 50 years of age, arrangements will be made for them to be transferred to other departments?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Ronald McNeill)In the departments referred to in my hon. and gallant Friend's question, four members of the temporary staff have recently been given notice of discharge. The notices were not given in consequence of the decision of His Majesty's Government to terminate the separate existence of these three departments but on the ground that the temporary work on which the four employés were engaged was approaching completion.
Sir F. HALLIn considering the future requirements will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration before increasing the number of candidates for examination the utilisation of the services of some of the ex-service men who have done excellent work?
§ Mr. McNEILLWe always do take that into consideration.
§ 45. Mr. WHITELEYasked the Prime Minister whether the functions of the present Mines Department will remain under the control of one Minister, as hitherto, or will be distributed between different departments?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 26th April to the hon. Member for North Tottenham (Mr. R. Morrison).
§ Mr. PALINGMay I ask whether the functions of the Department are to be continued under the reorganisation scheme, or is the staff of the Mines Department likely to be abolished?