§ 8. Mr. Oramasked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation if he is aware that, in order to encourage technical experts to undertake periods of overseas service, it is necessary to guarantee security in respect of their future employment and promotion at home; and what proposals he has to help employers offer such guarantees to members of their staff.
§ Mr. R. CarrPromotion can seldom be guaranteed, but there are satisfactory arrangements for the re-employment on return from overseas of teachers, civil servants and the staff of public corporations. Arrangements in the local government field are being examined. We do all we can to encourage private employers and the professions to recognise this need, and to give positive credit for overseas service.
§ Mr. OramDoes not the right hon. Gentleman recognise that the Question is directed more to non-public employers than to the organisations he mentioned 1431 in the first part of his Answer? Does not this problem apply particularly to the small firm and the small organisation? They might have very suitable staffs, but would it not be unreasonable to ask the staffs to take the risk involved, or the firm to shoulder the financial burden that may be involved in reorganising its set-up? Is not there a need for a tripartite arrangement, providing for Government assistance and an employee-employer relationship, in order to make sure that people go out for the right sort of period?
§ Mr. CarrIt would be very difficult to organise any formal scheme. So far we have managed, on the whole, to meet the requests which have come to us. We have to do most of this by persuasion at the moment, as far as I can see, and the officers of my Department and I are having many conversations with the leaders of the professions and the employers. We shall try to find ways to make more overseas recruitment possible.
§ Sir C. OsborneIn his reply my right hon. Friend said that promotion can seldom be guaranteed. Under what circumstances can it ever be guaranteed, in a free society?
§ Mr. F. Noel-BakerIs not there a real difficulty concerning the people doing this kind of service, arising from the effect on their health insurance and pensions? Will the right hon. Gentleman have special talks with his right hon. Friend in order to consider that aspect of the matter, which affects both public and private employees?