§ 52. Mr. KELLYasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that 163 men are being discharged from the Claims and Records Offie at Kew; that most of these men are married with families, and have been employed in the 1042 service seven or more years; will he state the reason for discharging so many men at a time when unemployment figures are rising; whether he is aware that employés in other Departments are working overtime; and whether he will give careful consideration to the possibility of withdrawing the notices or having the men in question transferred to other Departments where overtime is being worked?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDWith regard to this question generally, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given on the same subject on the 10th November and 14th November to the hon. Members for Leith (Mr. E. Brown) and Plaistow (Mr. W. Thorne). With regard to the last two parts of the question, I have no authority to intervene in the organisation of other Departments; but I can assure the hon. Member that the Joint Substitution Board for the Civil Service is taking all possible steps to secure the re-employment of these men in suitable vacancies.
§ Mr. KELLYIn view of the fact that in his own Department much overtime is worked, and in view of the fact that he is unable to give the information asked for in some of the questions put to him, cannot the right hon. Gentleman employ these people in helping him?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI cannot do more than I am doing at the present moment. I have done and am doing the utmost I can as the vacancies are created. Of course, I have to have regard to any work that can properly be done for me.
§ Mr. MONTAGUEIs not a great amount of work being done at Acton?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDNot that I am aware of.