§ 12. Mr. Dayasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the present efforts that are being made to enlist men for His Majesty's Forces, he 158 will consider and give particulars of what further steps the Government now propose to take to ensure that civilian employment is offered to time-expired men on leaving the Army?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaVocational training at Ministry of Labour Training Centres is available for every man of good character, who has completed not less than six years with the Colours, and has not served as a tradesman during his service at a trade which has a counterpart in civil life. Of such men trained during 1938, just over 77 percent, were placed in immediate employment. The interests of any men who are not found immediate employment are specially looked after by the Ministry of Labour. The majority of them are soon placed.
§ Mr. DayDoes not the Minister agree that if some guarantee were given to these men about employment it would assist the recruiting campaign?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI did not quite hear the question, but the answer is that practically all these men are able to obtain employment.
§ Mr. DayThat is not an answer to my question. Is it not possible for the Minister, when enlisting these men, to give them some guarantee of future employment after they have finished their service?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaIt would be quite impossible to give a guarantee of that kind; but, as the hon. Gentleman knows, very decisive efforts are made, and made with success.
§ Major-General Sir Alfred KnoxSurely, it would be possible for the Minister to put pressure on other Government Departments such as the Post Office to employ a very much larger number of ex-service men?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThe Government Departments do co-operate, but I do not think that the problem is to-day what it was in the past, as our records show that almost every soldier on leaving the Colours is getting employment at the present time.
§ Mr. KirkwoodWould it not be a dangerous practice if men who served in the Army were to get special treatment: compared with men who had done their best to keep things going at home?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaAs good employers, we naturally try to look after the men when they leave the Service.