HC Deb 06 July 1920 vol 131 c1254W

Mr. REMER asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, before deciding to make permanent the present temporary offices in the Civil Service now held by ex-service men, the Cabinet will give some consideration to the claims of civilians displaced to make room for them, and by whom the work could be as, if not more, efficiently carried out, and many of whom in consequence of this enforced displacement, not contemplated by the Treasury Minute of September, 1919, are at the present time faced with ruin and starvation owing to the extreme difficuly of finding employment; whether he is aware that the hardship is intensified by the reason of the fact that they are ineligible for out-of-work pay, and, unlike the ex-service men, have neither pension nor gratuities; and whether he is aware that they cannot obtain aid from various organisations for assistance; and whether these facts entitle them to consideration?

Mr. BALDWIN: A competition is to be held shortly for appointment to established clerical posts in the Civil Service, which will be limited to temporary employés with not less than 12 months' approved Government service. Ex-temporary employés who possess this qualification, but who have been replaced by ex-service men, will be eligible to compete at this examination for a limited number of vacancies. The substitution of ex-service men for temporary Civil servants has been carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee appointed in June of last year to consider the question. These recommendations were framed with a view to minimising as far as possible the hardship to the temporary staff consistent with the increased employment of ex-service men, and whilst it is true that the necessary disbandment of temporary staffs must cause some hardship, my view is that in this matter prior consideration must be shown to the ex-service men.