§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Minister of Labour if his Department is dealing with the question of finding employment for ex-soldiers, officers and men, overseas; if so, will he give the House some explanation of the procedure which is being adopted; whether he is aware that the Central Emigration Board, for several years before the War, were engaged on similar work, but that its operations are now in abeyance owing to the difficulties of shipping accommoda- 1127W tion; and whether the Ministry of Labour is able to offer any special facilities in this respect?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe Ministry of Labour, which is acting in close co-operation with the Committee recently appointed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, has, since January, included an Overseas Appointments Bureau, which deals with the placing in training or appointments overseas of ex-officers and men of suitable professional and business qualifications. The Ministry is aware that, in view of the need for repatriating the various Expeditionary Forces, little or no shipping will be available for any other persons desiring to proceed overseas before the autumn, and regrets that it is impossible to offer any special facilities in this respect at the present time. It is intended that full information with regard to openings overseas for ex-Service men shall be available at all Employment Exchanges. In addition to the use of these official channels, there is every desire to encourage the work of private organisations which are endeavouring to obtain information as to openings overseas for ex-Service men, and various organisations are at present engaged in this work.