§ 6. Mr. W. J. BROWNasked the Minister of Labour whether the discharge of ex-service temporary clerks from her Department is contemplated; whether she is aware that boys and girls are at present being recruited to the Civil Service; and whether she will give an assurance that no such entrants will be admitted to her Department until the ex-service men now employed are assured of security in their employment?
§ 7. Mr. CHATERasked the Minister of Labour if she is aware that some 100 men, temporary clerks, are being dismissed from the Claims and Record Office; what is the reason for such dismissals; and, in view of the difficulty for these men of obtaining other employment, what steps will be taken to find them alternative employment?
§ Miss BONDFIELDIn order to avoid the risk of having to make a larger number of discharges later on, it is necessary to reduce the staff at the Claims and Record Office, Kew, by about 100 in the immediate future. A month's notice of discharge will be given to all the temporary clerks concerned. In accordance with the usual procedure every effort will be made to provide other employment for these men elsewhere in the Ministry or in other Government Departments, and it is not anticipated that any large number will actually be out of employment owing to the termination of their engagement at Kew. As regards recruitment of new entrants, I would refer my hon. Friends to the answer given by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the right hon. and learned Member for Ealing on 31st October, 1929.
§ Mr. BROWNIs the Minister of Labour aware that at the same time that notices are being given to a large number' of men considerable recruitment is taking place in the Employment Exchanges of the Ministry of Labour throughout the country, and cannot those two things be brought together?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe whole question of discharges and recruitment is receiving careful scrutiny.
§ Sir WILLIAM MITCHELL-THOMSONIs any preference being shown to ex-service men?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI think there is another question on the Order Paper on that subject.
§ Captain CROOKSHANKCan the right hon. Lady state definitely that none of these ex-service temporary clerks will be thrown out of work as a result of a preference being given to conscientious objectors?
§ 10. Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Minister of Labour whether she proposes to give a prefer- 312 ence to ex-service men when recruiting the additional staff of the Employment Exchanges rendered necessary if the Unemployment Insurance Bill becomes law?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe rules common to the service will be observed in connection with the recruitment of any additional male staff required.
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONPerhaps the right hon. Lady can answer the question which I put just now as to the retention of ex-service men in preference to others in case of dismissals?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe regulations common to all Government Departments will be observed.
§ Mr. W. J. BROWNHow does it come about that we are positively recruiting for one section of the Ministry of Labour while we are sacking people from another section?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe hon. Member is perfectly well aware that, in spite of the fact that there are certain categories of labour that may for the time being finish in regard to the work in which they are engaged, it does not at all follow that the same labour can be immediately put into occupations of a different grade or class.
§ Mr. BROWNWill the Minister of Labour indicate the difference in the type of labour, the rates of pay, and the hours?