HC Deb 19 March 1946 vol 420 cc1661-2
9. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the working of the Reinstatement in Civil Employment Act, 1944; how many persons discharged from the Forces have been reinstated in their former employment; in how many cases were disputes heard and determined by tribunals set up under that Act; and in how many were there appeals, and with what result.

Mr. Isaacs

The Act is working smoothly with the goodwill of employers and workers. I am not able to say how many persons released from the Forces have been reinstated by former employers, because, unless a dispute arises, reinstatement is a matter between the two parties. At the end of January, 1946, the Act had been in operation for 18 months, and during that period reinstatement committees decided 725 cases in dispute, of which 431 were decided in favour of the applicant. By that time the umpire had decided 49 appeals made under the Act, 22 of which were allowed. Other appeals were pending. In future, a statement will be published in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" each quarter, which will include details of the orders made by committees and the result of appeals to the umpire.

Mr. Hughes

Will the Minister consider enlarging the scope of this beneficial legislation by extending the time set out in Section 2, Subsection (2), which limits the period during which a person may apply to his former employer for reinstatement, and thereby rope in a much larger number of persons?

Mr. Isaacs

Without acquainting myself with Subsection (2), I should not like to answer that question.