§ 43. Lieut.-Colonel Acland-Troyteasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that discontent exists amongst the post-War ex-Service clerical officers of his Department at the lack of promotion prospects; and whether he is aware that the system of promotion at present in force will exclude efficient ex-Service clerical officers from promotion to a higher grade as long as they remain in his Department, and that at the same time promotion procedure has resulted in the bulk of War-time conscientious objectors receiving promotion to the detriment of ex-Service men; and whether he will look into this question?
Mr. StanleyRepresentations have recently been made in my Department on the subject of promotion prospects of post-War ex-Service clerical officers. It is not the case that efficient officers in this category are precluded under the present system from promotion to higher grades, nor that their claims have been subordinated to those of conscientious objectors, only one of whom has in fact been promoted since the War, but their position is certainly prejudiced by the fact that, owing to the relative slowness of promotion in my Department, their chances of promotion are not as good as in some other Departments.
Mr. AlexanderIs the President of the Board of Eduction allowing the invitation from the Service Ministries to his staff to be freely circulated, inviting them to transfer to Departments where they are now badly needed?
Mr. StanleyThat is rather a different question, so perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will put it on the Paper.
§ 44. Lieut.-Colonel Acland-Troyteasked the President of the Board of Education the number of post-War ex-Service clerical officers; the number of conscientious objectors of all grades; and the number of clerical officers, excluding post-War ex-Service officers promoted to all higher ranks since 1920?
Mr. StanleyThe answer to the first part of this question is 153; to the second, 3; and to the third, 57.
§ 47. Lieut.-Colonel Acland-Troyteasked the President of the Board of Education whether he will undertake to arrange that in future meritorious ex-service clerical officers in his Department will be considered for promotion irrespective of their position in the seniority list, so that they will have the same privileges as the non-service staff?
Mr. StanleyIn accordance with well established principles both merit and seniority are taken into account in considering promotions. I am not prepared to give preferential treatment to the group of post-war ex-service clerical officers as against other clerical officers, senior to them, the great majority of whom are also ex-service men.