HC Deb 11 December 1947 vol 445 cc1175-9
32. Colonel Wheatley

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what facilities have been set up to enable British officers in the Indian Services, both civil and military, to obtain information about employment in this country and to assist them in obtaining employment.

The Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (Mr. Philip Noel-Baker)

The following arrangements have been made for helping Civil officers appointed by the Secretary of State for India and Burma, and officers of the Indian Army and Royal Indian Navy, to find employment: Two branches in my Department deal with questions of policy, and with permanent appointments under His Majesty's Government in the U.K. Two sections of the London Appointments Office of the Ministry of Labour deal with posts in business and in temporary Government employment. An unofficial employment liaison committee is in touch with the London Appointments Office. The Technical and Scientific Register of the Ministry of Labour also helps in appropriate cases. With the hon. and gallant Member's permission, I will circulate later a fuller statement on the work of these agencies in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Colonel Wheatley

Is the Minister aware that after going to Tavistock Square they had been told that there is nothing doing at all, and that the only chance they have of getting a job is to find it themselves?

Mr. Noel-Baker

if the hon. Member will give me any details, I will certainly look into them. On the whole, the machinery is, I think, working very well, and a large number of officers have found employment.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I received an answer the other day showing that out of over 800 officers on the register at Tavistock Square, just over 200 had found employment? Can he say how the non-Secretary of State Services are provided for, and can he give any indication showing the success or otherwise of this arrangement so far?

Mr. Noel-Baker

Of the 829 who have applied, as I said in my answer, a large number are still serving in India, Pakistan and Burma. A large additional number are now under consideration for vacancies, and 221 were placed a fortnight ago when I gave the answer. With regard to provision for non-Secretary of State officers, that will all be shown in the statement I propose to circulate. I hope it may be of great value to those for whom it is intended.

Mr. Keeling

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that the statement gives the addresses to which officers should apply?

Mr. Noel-Baker

Yes, Sir.

Following is the statement referred to:

RE-EMPLOYMENT FACILITIES FOR MEMBERS OF THE CIVIL SERVICES OF INDIA AND BURMA AND FOR OFFICERS OF THE INDIAN ARMY AND THE ROYAL INDIAN NAVY

The following facilities are available for civil officers:

(a) India and Burma Services Re-employment Branch Commonwealth Relations Office, King Charles Street, S.W.I.

This branch deals with all applications from members of the Secretary of State's Services in India and Burma for appointment in permanent Government Service, and for appointment under the Colonial Office and the Foreign Office. It also administers schemes, of which details are given in a series of memoranda issued by it. Inquiries or requests for interview should be addressed to the Secretary (Telephone Whitehall 8140, extension 274).

(b) India and Burma Services Section. London Appointments Office, Ministry of Labour, 1–6, Tavistock Square,

This section is staffed by an I.C.S. officer and an officer of the Indian Police, and deals with all business appointments, with vacancies in quasi-Government organisations and public corporations, and with temporary appointments in the Home Civil Service. It does not deal with technical appointments. Members of the non-Secretary of State's Services are eligible equally with members of the Secretary of State's Services to seek the assistance of this section. Inquiries and requests for interview should be addressed to the Secretary (Telephone Euston 4383, extension 167).

(c) Technical and Scientific Register, Ministry of Labour, York House, Kingsway, W.C.2.

The Technical and Scientific Register deals with all technical appointments in the field covered by the India and Burma Services Section, with which, it is closely associated. Officers of the Indian Service of Engineers and the Indian Forest Service are interviewed by a former officer of the Indian Services. Telephone Temple Bar 8020.

The facilities available to officers of the Indian Army and the Royal Indian Navy are:

(i) Military Department, Commonwealth Relations Office, Clarence House, Matthew Parker Street, Westminster, S.W.I.

This Department deals with questions relating to the transfer of officers to the British Defence Services, and with appointments to permanent Government Services, such as the Colonial Service. Inquiries or requests for interview should be addressed to the Secretary (Telephone Whitehall 2166, extension 220).

(ii) The Defence Services Section, London Appointments Office, Ministry of Labour, 1–6, Tavistock Square, W.C.I.

This Section is staffed by naval and military officers, including an officer of the Indian Army. It deals with all business appointments, with vacancies in quasi-Government organisations and public corporations, and with temporary appointments in the Government service. Inquiries and requests for interview should be addressed to the Officer in Charge (Telephone Euston 4383, extension 256).

In addition to the above official organisations, a high-level unofficial committee (known as the India and Burma Services Employment Liaison Committee) has been set up to endeavour to discover openings in business firms or companies, trade or other associations, etc. A member of the staff of the India and Burma Services Section, London Appointments Office, Ministry of Labour, acts as Secretary of this Committee. All vacancies made available as a result of the Committee's activities will be filled through the India and Burma Services Section or the Defence Services Section, and officers should not in any circumstances attempt to approach the Committee direct.

Officers, including officers of the technical services, who have already applied for a permanent appointment under His Majesty's Government, or any appointment under the Colonial Office or the Foreign Office, or who have applied under the terms of any memoranda in the series issued by the India and Burma Services Re-employment Branch of the Commonwealth Relations Office, or who wish to investigate the chances of obtaining permanent Government employment, should in the first instance ask for an interview with the India and Burma Services Re-employment Branch, or with the Military Department, Commonwealth Relations Office. Officers who are not applicants for permanent Government appointments, or for any appointment under the Colonial Office or Foreign Office, and who are primarily interested in business appointments or temporary appointments in the Home Civil Service, should, in the first instance, ask for an interview with the India and Burma Services Section, London Appointments Office, Ministry of Labour, or the Defence Services Section of that Office, or the Technical and Scientific Register, as appropriate.

35. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many British persons previously employed by the Government of India have relinquished their posts; and how many have agreed to serve the Indian and Pakistan Dominion Governments respectively.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

I regret that I can give my hon. Friend no information about the number of British persons who are still employed by the Government of Pakistan. I have no information about the total number of United Kingdom officials still employed in India; but from a report made recently by the High Commissioner in New Delhi, I understand that there are 54 still serving who were formerly in the Indian Civil Service, 64 who were in the Indian Police, and three who were in the Indian Political Service.

Mr. Sorensen

Can my right hon. Friend give me an idea of the percentage or proportion who have opted to remain?

Mr. Noel-Baker

I am afraid that I cannot. To give the answer which my hon. Friend wants would mean asking the Indian and Pakistan Governments to do a great deal of work, which I am reluctant to lay on them when they are pre-occupied with urgent administrative problems.