HC Deb 07 December 1933 vol 283 cc1819-21
36. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTE

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will arrange for the creation of a special register of temporary ex-service men already discharged for redundancy, many of them after many years of temporary service, in order that they may be considered for re-appointment as opportunity occurs

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox) on the 15th December last and to paragraph 13 of the Report of the Temporary Staffs Committee, of which I am sending him copies. It should be added that temporary employes of Government Departments discharged on redundancy may register with the Employment Exchanges and are then considered as vacancies arise for further employment in accordance with the usual machinery.

Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTE

Yes, but would not lot be much better to keep a register of these men, so that they can be given employment as the chance arises? Do the Government not wish to give them employment?

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

Yes, but to put them on a special register would, as I am sure my hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate, create expectations in their minds which might not always be fulfilled.

Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTE

Would it not be better to create expectations than not to give them employment?

37. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTE

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will give an assurance that the promotion prospects of ex-service men serving as members of the new special class shall not be in any way prejudiced by the absorption of recruits from open competition or by the promotion of female personnel already employed in the Civil Service; and whether he will undertake that no temporary ex-service man shall be displaced, either directly or indirectly, by the introduction of new recruits from outside?

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

As regards the first part of the question, it was agreed when the special class was constituted following the report of the Temporary Staffs Committee that members thereof should be eligible on their merits for promotion to the general or departmental clerical classes. My hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that this arrangement will operate. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox) on the 14th December, 1932, of which I am sending him a copy.