§ 53. Mr. MAITLAND (for Sir WILFRID SUGDEN)asked the Minister of Health the reasons why writing assistants employed in his Department have, without previous knowledge of clerical class duties, recently been promoted after three months' trial to the established general clerical class; and is he aware that such persons are now being trained in their new duties by ex-service "S" Class clerks?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREWriting assistants who are considered to possess potential capacity for promotion to the clerical class are eligible for promotion thereto subject to a trial period of three months in accordance with an agreement reached on the Departmental Whitley Council. Twelve such officers satisfactorily completed this trial period as far back as 1931, but, owing to contraction of staff, their promotion has unfortunately had to be deferred until a recent date. These officers are not being trained in their new duties by "S" Class clerks.
§ 54. Mr. MAITLAND (for Sir W. SUGDEN)asked the Minister of Health what redundant staff in his Department since October, 1931, has been transferred to other Departments; if he will explain the circumstances by which it has been possible to make a large number of promotions; what actual number have been made in each grade and at what cost to the State in the first year; and what the cost to the State would be in the first year of promoting a similar number of "S" class clerks to the established clerical class?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThe number of redundant staff transferred to other Departments since October, 1931, is 319. A number of promotions have been made to higher grades partly to fill vacancies caused by retirement and partly to meet additional work appropriate to those grades. My right hon. Friend will send my hon. Friend a statement showing the number of promotions made in each grade and the cost, and also the cost which would have been incurred had it been possible to promote a similar number of "S" Class clerks to the Established Clerical Class.
§ 55. Mr. MAITLAND (for Sir W. SUGDEN)asked the Minister of Health the latest published figure of the complement 371 of clerical officers, exclusive of audit clerks, required for his Department; what is the total number of clerical officers at present employed in his Department; and what is the actual number of "S" class clerks employed in his Department who are performing the same duties as clerical officers employed in the same sections?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThe number of clerical officers provided for in the Estimates for my Department in the current year, excluding the Welsh Board of Health and audit clerks, is 1,617. The total number at present employed is 1,571. My right hon. Friend regrets that he is unable to answer the last part of the question pending a review of the duties performed by the "S" class clerks in the different sections of my Department which is now proceeding.