§ Captain LOSEBYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions (1) the number of ex-service men temporarily employed in his Department who have been entrenched since 1st January, 1920, and the number who have been absorbed into the permanent Civil Service?
(2) if he will give an estimate of the number of ex-service men temporarily employed in his Department who will be retrenched before 30th December, 1920; and the number that it is estimated will be absorbed into the permanent Civil Service?
Mr. J. HOPESo far as the headquarters staff of the Ministry is concerned, since 1st January, 1920, no efficient ex-service man has been finally discharged. During this period, however, 503 have voluntarily resigned, or in certain cases have been discharged for inefficiency or for other disciplinary reasons; while 350 have been transferred with their work to other Government Departments. Owing to the rapid demobilisation of the staff of the Ministry, and to the fact that the headquarters male staff at present comprises 60 per cent. of ex-service, I am unable to estimate the number of individuals that it will be necessary to discharge between now and the end of the year. This Ministry is not a permanent Department, and I regret that there is no information available as to the extent to which these ex-service men who have voluntarily left the Department have obtained permanent appointments in other Departments.