§ 72. Sir Leonard Lyleasked the Minister of Labour whether he can make any statement as to the operation of Section 7 of the Military Training Act, 1939, especially in respect of the replacement of various persons who successively hold the same post in the firm?
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Tomlinson)No, Sir. Few cases of alleged breaches of the provisions of the National Service Acts regarding reinstatement of persons called up for service have come before the courts, and these throw no light on the particular point raised by my hon. Friend.
§ Sir L. LyleHow is it possible even for the most up-to-date employer to put two people or even possibly three people back into the same job?
§ Mr. TomlinsonI do not think it is possible.
§ Sir L. LyleWhat do we do then?
§ 73. Mr. Granville (for Mr. Bellenger)asked the Minister of Labour whether, as the reinstatement of employment provisions in the National Service Acts have been nullified in thousands of cases owing to the closing down of industrial undertakings as a result of the war, he has any proposals to make for the compensation of those called up for National Service who have now lost hope of returning to their old place of employment?
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe question of assisting persons who do not possess reinstatement rights, or for whom those rights may be ineffective, to find suitable employment after the war is part of the general problem of resettlement which is engaging the attention of the Government.
§ Mr. TomlinsonIf the hon. Lady will give me particulars, I shall then be in a position to say whether I am satisfied or not. At the moment I do not know what she is referring to.