HC Deb 23 May 1944 vol 400 c569
44. Sir Douglas Hacking

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that provision for civilian employment is already made by Act of Parliament for militia, embodied, called-up and disabled soldiers, he will consider a guarantee of employment for time-serving soldiers requiring employment on completion of their service or on the cessation of hostilities.

Mr. McCorquodale

The Reinstatement in Civil Employment Act applies to all soldiers who started whole-time service since 25th May, 1939, and who apply for reinstatement within six months after the end of the present emergency, including any time serving Regulars whose service falls within this period. The case of time serving Regular soldiers in general, however, is in our opinion best dealt with by arrangements to put them into touch with employments suited to their capacities rather than by attempting to fix an obligation on particular employers to take them back into their former occupation.

Sir D. Hacking

Will my hon. Friend see that these time serving soldiers are not treated in respect of employment in any way worse than the temporary soldiers?

Mr. McCorquodale

Certainly, Sir.

Mr. Gallacher

Is it not the case that the Government cannot give a guarantee to the soldiers to place them in employment when they come back unless the Government control the means of providing employment?