HC Deb 27 April 1931 vol 251 cc1378-9
81. Mr. PALMER

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that employment of civilians and also special service men has been prejudiced at Kidbrooke aerodrome and Post Office Corps and Stores Department by the decision to employ only ex-regular service men who are registered with the National Association for the Employment of Ex-Regular Service Men at 62, Victoria Street, S.W.; and whether, as the result of this is to oblige civilians against their will to join a fighting service in order to secure employment, he will take steps to restore the eligibility of civilians for employment in the Government Departments mentioned?

Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE

There is no such bar to the employment of civilians as the hon. Member suggests in the first part of his question. The arrangements for filling certain subordinate posts in Government Departments, such as those of messengers, caretakers, etc., provide for a preference to be given to ex-service men in the following order

  1. (i) Ex-regulars who enlisted on or before 11th November, 1918.
  2. (ii) "Ex-hostilities only" men.
  3. (iii) Ex-Regulars who enlisted after 11th November, 1918.
No man is taken on unless he is fully qualified

This policy is of long standing, and it is not proposed to alter it.

Mr. PALMER

Would my hon. Friend like to have cases in which the facts are contrary to the first part of his answer?

Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE

If my hon. Friend has cases which are contrary to the answer I have given, I shall, of course, be glad to have them, in order to check the facts.