§ 14. Mr. Higgsasked the Minister of Labour if he can see his way clear to reduce the percentage of five, normally required to qualify firms for the King's National Roll, as this figure was fixed in 1926 and owing to deaths since that date the numbers of disabled ex-service men have been considerably reduced, and this percentage of suitable men is hard to obtain.
§ Mr. E. BrownThe employment of disabled ex-service men to the extent of not less than 5 per cent. of total staff has been the normal basis of enrolment on the King's National Roll since the scheme was inaugurated in 1919, but enrolment is allowed on other bases in certain trades and the local committees which administer the scheme have a general discretion to effect enrolments on reduced bases in appropriate cases. A comprehensive report presented to the King's Roll National Council in December, 1935, showed that the overall percentage of disabled ex-service men employed by members of the Roll was 4.9 and that local committees had found it necessary to accept reduced quotas from only about 6 per cent. of enrolled firms. In the light of this information, the Council took the view that the normal qualifying basis of 5 per cent. should remain unchanged, but that local committees should be advised of the Council's desire that they should exercise freely their discretion to accept a lower percentage where the circumstances so warrant. The Council confirmed this view at their meeting on 1154 3rd May last, and I do not see sufficient reason for dissenting from their recommendation.