HC Deb 05 August 1942 vol 382 cc1021-3
36. Mrs. Tate

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will take steps to get rid of the redundant civil servants employed in Admiralty Departments in a town of which he has been informed; and whether he is aware of the indignation aroused in that town by the number of this redundant staff?

Mr. Alexander

I am not aware of any redundances in the town in question. However, if my hon. Friend will send me particulars of any cases, an investigation will be made.

Mrs. Tate

In view of the great hardship imposed on large numbers of people in that district owing to the call-up, could not the right hon. Gentleman send inspectors down, as it is a byword in this town about the lack of work in the Department?

Mr. Alexander

It is easy to say that things are a byword, but we must have specific cases put to us. My information is that the civil staffs in the town in question are below the proper establishment.

37. Mr. W. Brown

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that certain members of the clerical staff in the Armament Supply Department who are liable for military service were officially asked to indicate whether they are keen to be released, willing to be released, or unwilling to be released for service with the Forces; that the selection of individuals for whom continued deferment was not asked was based upon the replies received from the individual officers; and whether he will ensure that there is no repetition of this way of making selections of civil personnel to join the Forces, and will review the cases that have already occurred?

Mr. Alexander

It was recently decided to release to the Armed Forces a proportion of the clerical staff of the Armament Supply Department who fell within certain age groups. All the clerical staff of the groups concerned were reviewed and to enable the review to be carried out reports on each individual were called for, under eight separate headings. The personal circumstances of the individual was only one of these headings. Much more important factors were the experience of the individual, the dislocation his release would cause, and the future need of the Department. I am satisfied that the selections were fairly carried out but I feel that it would have been much better not to have included the personal questions in the questionnaire and I have given instructions that this is not to be repeated.