HC Deb 01 December 1932 vol 272 cc965-6
3. Mr. PARKINSON

asked the Minister of Labour the number of ex-service temporary clerks in the service of the Department and the number that have more than six years' service; and whether the temporary clerks with six years' or more service will be appointed to the permanent staff before additional staff is recruited (by open competition?

Sir H. BETTERTON

As the reply is long, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the reply:

There were 9,365 temporary ex-service male clerks in the service of the Department on 1st November. Under the agreement made with the staff representatives embodied in the Report of the Temporary Staffs Committee., 1932, over 1,400 temporary male clerks in the Department (practically all ex-service men) are eligible for appointment to the new "S" Class in which they will have permanent (and, in most cases, pensionable) status. This figure includes practically all those now serving who have had six years' or more aggregate service provided that they have had, within that period, no individual break exceeding two years. In regard to the latter part of the question, I would call the hon. Member's attention to the replies given to the hon. Member for Plaistow on Monday, 28th November, and the hon. Member for Deritend on Tuesday, 29th November.

11. Mr. DAVID GRENFELL

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to paragraph 15 of the Temporary Staffs Committee Report, and the agreement that an efficient temporary clerk, shorthand typist, or typist employed in a particular post should not be discharged to make room in that post for a recruit from open competition; and whether action will be taken to arrest the recruiting of youths and girls fresh from school, by open competition, into the Ministry of Labour until all ex-service temporary clerks in that Department have received permanent appointments.

Sir H. BETTERTON

I am aware of the contents of this paragraph, and the hon. Member may rest assured that the agreement recorded therein will be observed. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on Tuesday, 29th November, to the hon. Member for Deritend (Mr. Smedley Crooke).