§ Mr. MOLESasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction which prevails regarding certain conditions which have been imposed upon ex-service men seeking permanent clerkships under the Ministry of Labour reconstruction scheme; whether he is aware that under the rules such candidates must be aged over 24 and under 25 years on date of examination, and that this rule has had the effect of shutting out young ex-service men who joined up voluntarily at the outbreak of War, and whose claims should therefore be strongest; and whether he will see that the rules will be so amended as to make men not exceeding 27 years of age, who are now serving temporarily, eligible for examination, or, as an alternative, confirm in their appointments all such men as are now serving as temporary clerks, instead of removing them to make room for younger men who have not had practical experience of the work?
§ Sir R. HORNEI am aware that some dissatisfaction exists. The age limits, however, are 19 and 25 and not 24 and 25, as suggested by my hon. Friend. As I stated in the reply given on the 19th November, 1919, to the hon. Member for the Victoria Division of Belfast (Mr. Donald), the decision in this matter rests with the Civil Service Commissioners. With regard to the last part of the question, as I stated in the reply above referred to, there is no present intention to make all the clerks now employed in the Ministry permanent officials.