HC Deb 03 July 1947 vol 439 cc1503-4
59. Mr. Norman Bower

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why temporary civil servants are being dismissed by the Ministries of Transport, Pensions and Supply, while the Ministry of National Insurance is engaged in recruiting new staff from outside the Civil Service; and whether, with a view to making the best use of available man power both in industry and the Civil Service, he will revise the present procedure so as to allow temporary civil servants who become redundant in one department to transfer to another, without loss of status or emoluments, before any new entrants are taken on.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

The procedure followed is that Departments discharging staff inform the Ministry of Labour local offices, and should advise the redundant staff of the opportunity to register for further Government employment. Those selected within three months for reemployment reckon their previous service as continuous for the purpose of pay and conditions.

60 Mr. Dumpleton

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will consider the desirability of establishing an inter-departmental committee to consider and recommend a just and equitable scheme, which will provide for the orderly transfer of temporary civil servants who have become redundant in their own de- partments, but whose services may be of value in other Departments which are, at present, understaffed.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

A Ministry of Labour and National Service machinery already exists for this purpose.

Mr. Dumpleton

Is my right hon. Friend aware that when these temporary civil servants, many of Whom have done six to ten years' satisfactory service in their Department, go to the Ministry of Labour to make use of this machinery, they have to start at the bottom? Would it not be much better if some arrangement were made for orderly transfers from Departments?

Mr. Glenvil Hall

If my hon. Friend will let me have any cases which have come to his notice, I shall be glad to look into them. The situation is that if they are re-employed within three months, they carry on in the Service, and the ten years' service he mentioned would be continuous.