§ Mr. SAMUEL SAMUELasked the Prime Minister what proportion of ex-Service men are now filling positions in the various Government offices, and what number of civilians, not permanent officials, are retained in the Civil Service who were of military age during the War but who did not join the forces; and will 378W the Government give instructions, wherever possible, that the ex-Service men should be found positions?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have called for a return of the number of men employed by Government Departments on the 1st instant who served in His Majesty's Forces during the War, and the number who did not serve, and I hope to be in a position to give the figures early next month. Having regard to the very small proportion of temporary male employés eligible for military service who were retained by Departments under the Military Service Acts, I do not think that the labour involved in distinguishing such cases would be justified. Instructions have already been given to secure that, wherever possible, vacancies shall be filled by ex-Service men.