§ 53. Mr. Ecclesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now reconsider the rule of "last in, first out," when making redundancies in Government establishments, since this application penalises ex-Service men and introduces a test which is not based on, efficiency.
§ Mr. Douglas JayThe order of discharge of temporary staff on redundancy is governed by National Whitley Council agreements which make special provision for ex-Service men and women, and provide for the discharge out of turn of those found unable to carry out the duties of their grade with due efficiency. I do not consider that these agreements require revision.
§ Mr. EcclesDoes the hon. Gentleman consider it fair, as actually happens now, that an ex-Service man should lose his job simply because he was away fighting and citizens of Eire were taken on first? Does the Financial Secretary think that the management or directorate of a Government Department can build up an efficient force if this is to be the test of redundancy?
§ Mr. JayThe facts are not quite as the hon. Gentleman states them. In applying the principle of "first in, last out," the ex-Service people of the 1939–45 war may count the whole of their service towards their seniority provided they 35 joined the Civil Service within three months of leaving the Forces.
Mr. VaneWill the hon. Gentleman say whether this same principle of "last in, first out" applies also to Parliamentary Secretaries?
§ Mr. AlportWith regard to entitlement, in considering length of service within Government service, can service before 1939 be counted by an ex-Regular soldier in considering his status with regard to redundancy?