69. Mr. GUINNESSasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total 1122 number of boys and girls for the clerical classes and women writing assistants appointed to the Claims and Records Office of the Ministry of Labour at Kew, and also the number of ex-service temporary clerks discharged from that office and not found other employment by the Joint Substitution Board since the 1st January, 1928, in both cases?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI understand that nine clerical and 176 writing assistants posts at the Claims and Records Office, Kew, have been filled since 1st January, 1928, from the open competitions for these established classes. Of the nine clerical posts, seven were filled by promotion of writing assistants already serving in the office. During the same period 65 temporary and casually employed ex-service clerks have been discharged on redundancy from this office. Further Government employment was found for all these men with the exception of nine, of whom seven were over 64 years of age. The remaining two were not available for further employment on account of ill-health. In addition to the above, 89 ex-service men are due to be discharged from this office on 24th February. Of this number, 83 have already been found alternative Government employment, one is over 64 years of age, and one is medically unfit to take up further employment at present. Every endeavour is being made to find alternative Government employment for the remaining four.