33. Mr. Ivor Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will ensure that any vacancies which the Colonial Office or the Crown Agents are in a position to offer to officers and men of the Palestine Police Force will be offered to the Force as such and not to individuals, in order that officers and men who are retained in Palestine to the end of the Mandate are not placed at a disadvantage in comparison with officers and men on leave in the United Kingdom pending retirement.
Mr. Creech JonesIn filling vacancies in Colonial police forces full consideration is being given to members of the Palestine Police Force but it is necessary to select for particular vacancies those best qualified to fill them. I am however in full sympathy with the idea underlying the question. The High Commissioner is normally asked to recommend candidates from the Force as a whole, and vacancies would wherever possible be held open for selected men who cannot be released from Palestine immediately.
Mr. ThomasWill my right hon. Friend undertake not to fill vacancies in London without first consulting the Palestine Government?
39. Mr. Ivor Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Palestine Police Force includes officers and men with high linguistic and administrative qualifications; and whether he will take steps to see that recruitment into the Foreign Service and to the Home Office and other Government Departments is open to the Force as well as recruitment into the Police Forces at home and in the Colonies.
Mr. Creech JonesYes, Sir. As regards the second part of the Question, I am in consultation with the appropriate Departments in regard to the possibility of absorbing any suitably qualified candidates in the manner suggested.
Mr. ThomasWould my right hon. Friend bear in mind that there are also 1794 many men in the Palestine Police Force with technical qualifications.