73. Mr. Vyvyan Adamsasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the diminishing number of ex-service men under the age of 40, he will raise to 45 the age limit for entry of men who saw active service in the War into the Post Office service; and whether, in the alternative, he will, in considering applications on the part of those who served in the War, subtract the period of their War service from their age?
§ The Postmaster-General (Major Tryon)The normal maximum age limit for appointment as postman is 30, but this has been extended to 40 in the case of able-bodied men who served during the War. An age extension up to 45 is allowed to pensioners, both disability and long service, and I am not prepared to make any further extension.
§ Major TryonI did not fully catch the hon. Gentleman's question. The point is that the Post Office at the present moment employs 115,000 ex-service men, and last year it took on 7,000 more, which constitutes a record. Our experience shows that it is not desirable for training purposes to engage a higher proportion of older ex-service men than at present.
Mr. AdamsWill not ex-service men become progressively fewer, and have they not the first claim on the community?