§ Captain THORPEasked the Postmaster General whether notice to leave Government employment has been given to disabled ex-soldiers temporarily in His Majesty's sorting office, Peter Street, Manchester, whereas married and unmarried women are still being retained in the same or similar occupations at the same office and that, since such notice, an additional woman has been appointed?
§ Mr. BALDWINI understand my hon. and gallant Friend to refer to H.M. Stationery Office, Peter Street, Manchester. Under a reorganisation which has taken place recently in this office, certain work of a permanent nature, which was done during the War by temporary ex-service or civilian employés, has been allocated to established Civil Servants. This has rendered the discharge of temporary men inevitable as permanent staff becomes available for absorption, either from other Departments whose war activities are ceasing and thereby enabling the services of permanent staff to become available elsewhere, or from demobilised Civil Servants now available as assistant clerks. No notices of discharge were given to ex-service men until all the civilian temporary male clerks had been discharged. With regard to the last part of the question, I find that the woman clerk referred to was entered in error, and instructions will be given for her replacement by an ex-service man. I have also arranged that the question of substituting ex-service men for women employed elsewhere in this office shall be fully considered.