§ 52. Mr. Digbyasked the Minister of Labour why his Department is dismissing employees owing to redundancy and failure to pass a written examination after 20 years' satisfactory service.
§ Mr. IsaacsStaff are naturally not retained in my Department in excess of the requirements of the work, and the appointments of temporary officers who become redundant are terminated in accordance with the provisions of an agreement on order of discharge made by the Departmental Whitley Council. The agreement provides in general for the retention of officers with long service in preference to those with shorter service.
§ Mr. DigbyIs it not a fact that one of these officers who served for more than 20 years was dismissed because more civil servants were being recruited to the so-called permanent grades, and will the Minister give an assurance that officers with this length of service will not continue to be displaced because of new recruitments?
§ Mr. IsaacsI am afraid that the hon. Member has been misinformed as to the facts—
§ Mr. IsaacsThe hon. Gentleman has had a letter about this case. This man left our employment and then came back, and when a man comes back his service dates from the time when he returned and not from the time when he was previously with us.