HC Deb 24 October 1945 vol 414 cc1989-90
6. Lieut.-Colonel Martin Lindsay

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what special consideration his Department is giving to ex-Servicemen in filling appointments under the Colonial Office.

Mr. George Hall

Arrangements were made in the early part of the year for information about appointments in the Colonial Service to be made available to Servicemen in all parts of the world, through Service channels. This material was released simultaneously in all Commands on 1st June. In several classes of appointment—indeed wherever possible—war experience in the Forces is being accepted in lieu of the educational qualifications normally required before the war. Branches of the Colonial Office have been opened in Delhi and Cairo to deal with applications from Servicemen in those areas, and representatives of the Director of Recruitment have visited, or will visit, Southern India, Malaya, East and West Africa, and several other areas to interview candidates.

Lieut.-Colonel Lindsay

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask him to bear in mind the particular difficulties of young ex-officers, with good records but no special qualifications, in obtaining jobs commensurate with their war-time responsibilities; and may I ask that they should be given special consideration, in view of their particular suitability for certain types of administrative posts under the Colonial Office?

Mr. Hall

I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that these matters are sympathetically considered.

Mr. Sorensen

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, while bearing that in mind, he will see that that principle is in no way detrimental to the applications of Africans who are also suitable for these posts?

Lieut.-Commander Gurney Braithwaite

Is the right hon. Gentleman keeping contact in this matter with the Appointments Department of the Ministry of Labour, which probably has some suitable names, on the lines suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend?

Mr. Hall

We are in touch with any organisation which can assist in producing the right people.

Mr. Kirkwood

May I ask the Minister not to pay special attention to ex-officers any more than to the rank and file?

Mr. Hall

I would like to assure my hon. Friend that, whatever the position or rank of the applicant, all applications receive sympathetic consideration.

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