§ 9. Mr. Gammansasked the Minister of Labour to what extent difficulty still exists in finding employment for retired ex-Regular officers of all three Services; and whether, in view of the manpower shortage, he proposes to take any special steps to absorb them.
Mr. LeeAlthough the number of unemployed ex-Regular officers is smaller than at the beginning of the year, it remains difficult to find suitable employment for those who have no professional or technical qualifications, particularly when they have settled in parts of the country where few administrative or executive posts are available. Special appeals have been and will continue to 180 be made to employers to consider sympathetically the claims of ex-Regular officers and to notify suitable vacancies to my appointments offices.
I would refer the hon. Member to the replies to the hon. and gallant Member for Macclesfield (Air Commodore Harvey) on 6th July, 1950, and to the hon. Member for Ayr (Sir T. Moore) on 26th October, 1950.
§ Mr. GammansCan the Minister say how many Regular officers are on the books of the Ministry of Labour?
Mr. LeeThe number of unemployed ex-officers registered at the appointments office fell from 1,703 in January of this year to 1,302 this month, and placings increased from 129 during the three months ending 16th April to 160 during the three months ending 16th July.
§ Brigadier HeadDoes the Minister think that adequate publicity has been given to the much improved conditions which now obtain for ex-Regular officers who rejoin the Services?
Mr. LeeI should have thought that those conditions were pretty well-known to ex-Regular officers, but I will consult my right hon. Friend at the War Office and see what can be done.