§ 18. Captain STRICKLAND (for Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKE)asked the Minister of Labour the number of disabled ex-service men who were registered for employment under the King's National Roll in the city of Birmingham at the end of December, 1933; and how many of these have been placed in permanent work under the scheme during the first three months of 1934?
§ Captain AUSTIN HUDSON (Lord of the Treasury)I have been asked to reply, and as the answer is somewhat long I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. The King's Roll Scheme provides for the enrolment of employers who undertake to employ a certain percentage—normally 5 per cent. of total employés—of disabled ex-service men. There is no provision for the special registration of disabled ex-service men for employment under the scheme. Disabled ex-service men are registered for employment in the ordinary way at Employment Exchanges and their particulars are available for submission for any suitable employment, whether in an enrolled firm or otherwise. It has been the settled policy of successive Governments since the War that, in the filling of vacancies notified to the Employment Exchanges, preference shall be given, other things being equal, to ex-service men, and in exercising this preference particular attention is paid to the claims of disabled men. The number of disabled ex-service men so registered for employment at Employment Exchanges in the Birmingham area on the 19th December, 1933, 157 was 623. The number of placings of such men effected during the last three months was 46. It is not possible to say whether these were for permanent work or otherwise.