§ 26. Mr. E. BROWNasked the Secretary of State for Air why an ex-service man employed as a technical officer in the works and buildings department, and selected for establishment by the selection board, has been refused a certificate on the ground that his disability contracted during war service prevents him from serving overseas; and whether, seeing that such disability should not prejudice the prospects of an officer competent to carry out his duties satisfactorily at home, he will reconsider this decision?
§ Sir S. HOAREI am aware that a technical officer in the works and buildings department, who was selected for establishment, has been refused a certificate on the ground that he is suffering from a disability, contracted during war service, which renders him unfit for service overseas. The decision in these matters rests with the Civil Service Commission, but the Air Ministry have felt it necessary to ask that Department in deciding these questions to take into account the liability to foreign service which appointment to the technical staff of the works and buildings department involves. I understand that the Commission will be prepared to permit the officer in question to undergo a further medical examination after a reasonable interval.
§ 27. Mr. E. BROWNasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that a number of technical officers with strong ex-service claims who have served in the directorate of works and buildings for many years, and have received 1175 regular increments of pay as evidence of satisfactory service, have been refused establishment, and that arrangements are at present being made to recruit non-service staff for established posts; and whether, in view of paragraph 45 of the Lytton Report and the declared policy of the Government, he will reconsider this matter?
§ Sir S. HOAREI explained the position of the Air Ministry in this matter in a reply which I gave on the 6th April to the hon. and gallant Member for Bromley. With reference to paragraph 45 of the Third Lytton Report, a limited competition, as there contemplated, has already been held, as a result of which establishment was offered to as many ex-service men as were found to be suitable for establishment.