57. Mr. Baker-Whiteasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the withdrawal of age and pay concessions to ex-Service men entering the National Agricultural Advisory Service in the grade of assistant experimental officer acts adversely against them in that for the great majority of ex-Service men the years 1949 and 1950 are the first possible opportunities of entering the service after graduation; and 1514 whether he is prepared to restore for these two years the concessions to ex-Service entrants.
Mr. T. WilliamsAssistant experimental officers are not employed in the National Agricultural Advisory Service, but I assume the hon. Member is referring to officers in Grade IV of that service. The "weight-for-age" salary concessions in this grade was an exceptional arrangement to meet the post-war situation. As in comparable grades throughout the Civil Service it has now been replaced by an increment for each year of military service under the National Service Act up to two years. There is no age limit to entry into the Advisory Service.