§ 18. Mr. HUGH MORRISONasked the Secretary of State for War whether the proposed abolition of the roads and communications departments in the Salisbury district can be cancelled, or whether some arrangements can be made to prolong the employment of the ex-service men now employed by that department to mitigate the hardship of the abrupt termination of their employment on the 31st March next?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSWhile I regret that the permanent retention of this organisation would not be justifiable, arrangements are being made, instead of winding up the department on 31st March next, to spread the reductions over the next four months. In addition, any men for whom continuous employment on the routine maintenance of roads can be found beyond that period will be kept on and endeavours will also be made in any contracts which may be placed for re-surfacing or new road work to secure that the contractors shall give preference to those who have been engaged by the War Department on this work.