21. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Labour whether, in connection with the large number of temporary civil servants employed as enforcement officers, inspectors and other posts in connection with Government imposed controls, he can give an assurance that he has a scheme for absorption of these temporary civil servants and officials when it is found possible to decrease the number of existing controls and to ensure that these people are enabled to engage in productive work.
§ Mr. IsaacsNo special schemes are necessary: when temporary civil servants become redundant the facilities offered by local offices of my Department are available to assist them to find suitable productive employment.
Mr. De la BèreIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have the greatest possible sympathy with the large number of temporary civil servants who have been called temporary for a great many years? Is it not possible to have an all-out drive in order to clear up this matter, which has been going on for years?
§ Mr. IsaacsI am not quite sure what the hon. Gentleman wants me to clear up. Does he want me to clear it up by dispensing with the temporary civil servants?
§ Mr. IsaacsWe are doing it.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas MooreWhy should there be these enforcement officers at all? Surely the police are the proper officers to see that the law is properly observed?
§ Mr. IsaacsI did not know that this Question related specially to enforcement officers.