§ 40. Mr. R. Bellasked the Minister of Labour the approximate number of retired officers from Her Majesty's Forces who have sought resettlement in civil life through his Department since the end of the war.
§ Sir W. MoncktonI regret that this information is not available. A quarterly count is, however, made of the number of Regular officers who are unemployed and in need of resettlement, and who retired from the Services within two years 493 before their current period of unemployment began. Since October, 1950, when these counts were first made, the number so registered has declined fairly steadily from 1,972 to 985 in April, 1955, when the latest count was taken.
§ Mr. BellCan my right hon. and learned Friend tell me what proportion of these people have found resettlement through his Department? Will he see what he can do to improve still further the service rendered by his Department for these men, who re-enter the civilian labour market at an age when it is difficult for them to find employment?
§ Sir W. MoncktonWe constantly try to improve the facilities we can give for resettling these officers, and are very anxious to do so. I cannot give the proportion without notice.