§ 1. Major-General Sir Alfred Knoxasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will direct that the rule limiting the employment of ex-service men under the Royal Engineers at Corsham to applicants under 45 years of age be cancelled, in view of the fact that in Bristol there are over 2,000 ex-service men over this age who are qualified to carry out any class of manual labour?
§ The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Hore-Belisha)Since my hon. and gallant Friend put his question on 31st January last, I have caused further inquiries to be made, and I am reinforced in the view that any relaxation of the rule would be at the expense of the speed with which the work in question should, in the public interest, be accomplished. Were the urgency of the work to permit of meeting my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion, I should be most happy to do so. My information as to the number of available ex-service men over 45 years of age in the district does not correspond with the figure in the question.
§ Sir A. KnoxDoes not my right hon. Friend consider that a hard-and-fast rule like this is not really sound, as there are very many men over 45 years of age who are much more able to do a hard day's work than are some younger men?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI quite agree in principle, but I had to meet the view of the officer in charge of these works, based on experience. Perhaps it would please my hon. and gallant Friend to know that there are already 875 ex-service men on these works over 45 years of age.
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI do not know.
§ Mr. PalingWhat kind of work of national importance involving great physical strain is it that men of 45 are not fit for?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThe nature of the work has not yet been publicly revealed, but it is work of very great national importance, involving great physical strain.
§ Mr. PalingIs it any harder than working in a pit? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that men of 45 have performed that work quite satisfactorily over a long number of years?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI have already pointed out to the House that there are nearly 1,000 ex-service men over 45 engaged on this work.
§ Mr. PalingCan we know exactly the kind of work that these people cannot do?
§ Sir A. KnoxIs my right hon. Friend aware that of all the Government Departments, the War Office is the only one that insists on a hard-and-fast rule like this?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI would like my hon. and gallant Friend to appreciate the position, because we do our best for the ex-service men, and the rule only applies on a particular part of the work. If my hon. and gallant Friend would like to see it, I should be most ready to make arrangements for him to do so. Perhaps he will communicate with me again.