§ 32. Mr. Lipsonasked the Minister of Labour how many appointments have been made by his Department since the outbreak of war to supplement staffs of existing Government Departments and to staff newly-established Departments; and how many of these appointments were made from persons on the special National Service Register at the Ministry of Labour?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Assheton)The responsibility for making appointments to supplement staffs of the existing Government Departments and to staff newly established Departments rests with the Departments concerned and not with the Ministry of Labour and National Service.
§ Mr. LipsonHas the attention of those responsible been drawn to this matter, as it is very important that greater use be made of it?
§ Mr. AsshetonYes, Sir, attention has been drawn to the matter.
§ Sir Percy HarrisIs the hon. Gentleman aware that anybody who applies to any of the Departments of State is always referred to the Ministry of Labour and told that the only chance of being appointed is to register, as apparently that is the one channel of communication for anybody who wants to apply for a job in any Department of State?
§ Mr. AsshetonThe object of the Central Register which is maintained at the Ministry of Labour and National Service is to provide suitable additional personnel in Government Departments and elsewhere when requested.
§ Sir P. HarrisYes, but are they requested, and when they want people do they go to the Ministry of Labour? Most of the people who apply and are registered never hear any more about it.
§ Mr. AsshetonMy right hon. Friend answered a question on this subject last week in which he said that, up to the end of September, orders for 4,695 vacancies had been received, of which the great majority were made by Government Departments, and for these orders 3,479 names had been submitted to the Department or to the employers concerned.
§ Sir P. HarrisWhat percentage does that represent of those who are on the Register?
§ Mr. AsshetonI was relating the number of names submitted to the number of orders received by the Register.
§ Mr. R. GibsonHow many are on the Register?
§ Mr. AsshetonAbout 95,000.
§ 60. Mr. Pethick-Lawrenceasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will reconsider his decision to fix the payment of retired postal and other civil servants re-engaged during the emergency, at the salary at the date of their retirement when that figure is below the rate of pay recently settled by the arbitration tribunal?
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Captain Crookshank)I am glad to have the opportunity of removing misapprehensions which have arisen on this matter. 24 The existing arrangements do not result in the payment to re-employed officers who retired on age grounds of rates of pay below those now in operation for the grade. If such an officer is re-employed in his old grade he will be paid the equivalent of his retiring salary, but it is provided that if this is less than the current minimum for that grade he will be paid that minimum. These arrangements have the advantage of simplicity, and, in the opinion of the Government, are entirely fair to the officers concerned.