§ 83. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the Minister of Labour how many temporary ex-service clerks are at present under notice in the Ministry; and what is the rate of discharge?
§ Mr. BETTERTONOn the 15th May, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 98 ex-service temporary clerks under notice with a view to discharge. During the period 1st April, 1928, to 15th May, 1928, 334 ex-service temporary clerks in the Employment Exchange service were discharged, and 716 were engaged, these changes being due to fluctuations in the numbers on the registers at particular Exchanges. There were no such clerks discharged or recruited during the period in other Departments of the Ministry.
§ 84. Mr. MORRISONasked the Minister of Labour whether overtime is at present being worked in any of his Departments; and, if so, to what extent?
§ Mr. BETTERTONDuring April a considerable amount of overtime was necessary at the Employment Exchanges owing to the work arising from the bringing into operation of last year's Unemploy- 1688 ment Insurance Act, which could not be handled by inexperienced staff. A certain amount of overtime at the Exchanges is also caused by sudden increases in, the numbers on the registers, though additional temporary staff is engaged in such cases as rapidly as possible. In other Departments of the Ministry the amount of overtime worked is negligible.
§ 85. Mr. MORRISONasked the Minister of Labour whether any new entrants for the junior clerical class have been recruited by his Department during the last six months?
§ Mr. BETTERTONApart from promotions of P Class officers, numbering 25, the only appointments to the clerical class in the Ministry of Labour in the last six months were those of two ex-service men appointed to the Treasury Clerical Class from the Southborough examination, and 24 women, aged 18 and 19 years, recruited for the Departmental Clerical Class by open examination.