§ 41. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the Minister of Health whether overtime is being worked in any of his Departments at present; and, if so, to what extent?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINOvertime is being worked in the Pensions Branch of my Department, the number of officers at present working overtime being 992. The special circumstances which have necessitated recourse to overtime on this scale are the large number of claims to old age pensions at the age of 65 under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Pensions Contributory Acts, which have to be settled in sufficient time to allow of payments being made on 2nd January next. A substantial number of temporary 1114 ex-service clerks have been engaged for this work, but the hon. Member will appreciate that the services of the existing trained and permanent staff must necessarily, in times of special pressure be utilised to the fullest possible extent.
§ Mr. MORRISONDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that there is something on, the face of it very unbusiness-like for over 900 people in one Department to work overtime consistently while other employés in another Department are being discharged? Is there no co-operation between Departments, so that where men are being discharged they can be taken on by another Department?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI would rather like the hon. Member to go to Acton and see for himself the nature of the work that is being done, and, if he does, he will be convinced that it is not possible to take hundreds of people and put them on this work if the work is to be done in time. I have taken great pains myself to go into this business, because I am against the working of overtime unnecessarily, and there have been, a large number of men added to the staff temporarily for this purpose.
§ Mr. MORRISONDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean that the whole 992 that are there are all specialists and highly skilled men, and that the men who are being put off from other Departments cannot do the work?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINYes, that is exactly what I do mean. It does require a considerable amount of experience to deal quickly and accurately with this work and you cannot take hundreds of people and expect them in a couple of weeks to do the work that has been done by other people for months.
§ Mr. ERNEST BROWNAre not the ex-service men who are being discharged from Kew by the Ministry of Labour trained in similar work, and will the right hon. Gentleman not get into touch with his colleague the Minister of Labour and prevent their dismissal while these persons are working overtime?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that if the 1115 concessions sought for were granted it would obviate the necessity for this overtime?