§ 66. Mr. W. J. BROWNasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can assure the House, pending Government consideration of and decision on the recommendations of the Tomlin Commission in regard to the establishment of temporary male and female clerks, that discharges of temporary personnel shall be suspended?
§ Major ELLIOTNo, Sir. I am afraid it would be impossible for me to undertake to retain temporary personnel becoming redundant in their offices unless there is suitable work elsewhere on which they can be employed.
§ Mr. BROWNIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that recruiting is still proceeding by open competitive examination for the writing assistant class; and does he regard it as reasonable to recruit women on the one hand and to turn out, men with 10 or more years' service on the other?
§ Major ELLIOTAs the hon. Member knows, this question is very complicated, and not suitable for discussion by way of question and answer.
§ Mr. BROWNWould the hon. and gallant Gentleman be prepared to go into this matter with representatives of the staff?
§ Major ELLIOTI shall be happy to discuss it with the hon. Member, but I do not want to pledge myself, at the present moment of stress, to begin to receive deputations.