§ Mr. RAPERasked the Secretary of State for Air what, if any, are the special qualifications of Mr. B. Davies, a non-service man, who was recommended for substitution by the Departmental Substitution Committee; whether this gentleman is still retained as indispensable; why no efforts have been made to secure an ex-service man for the post; and what is the reason for not applying the recommendations of the Lytton Report in this case?
Captain GUESTMr. Davies is retained on work in connection with claims from inventors for awards in respect of the use by the Air Ministry of patented or other inventions. These claims are being investigated or awaiting hearing by the Royal Commission on Patents, Rewards, and Royalties, and the discharge of this official at the present stage would involve delay in dealing with the cases by the Royal Commission. The question of his discharge will be reconsidered as soon as the situation permits, but he could not be released nor replaced by a substitute at the present time without prejudice to the work of the Royal Commission. His temporary retention, 1239W which, for the reason I have stated, is in the interests of economy, is in accordance with Clause 9 of the Third Interim Report of the Lytton Committee.
§ Mr. RAPERasked the Secretary of State for Air what, if any, are the special qualifications of Mr. A. Slatter, a non-service man, who was recommended for substitution by the Departmental Substitution Committee; whether this gentleman is still retained as indispensable; why no efforts have been made to secure an ex-service man for the post; and what is the reason for not applying the recommendations of the Lytton Report in this case?
§ Sir R. BLAIRasked the Secretary of State for Air the total number of ex-service men dismissed from his Department during the last six months; how many of these were disabled; and how many more are at present under notice?
Captain GUESTThe answer to the first part of the question is 101. Sixteen of these were disabled but 12 of them have served at home only. Of the 4 disabled men who had served overseas, I was retired on reaching the age of 60, I was discharged on account of unsatisfactory conduct, I was offered further employment which he refused, and the fourth, whose special work here had come to an end, has been transferred (through the Joint Substitution Board) to the Admiralty. The answer to the third part of the question is that 61 ex-service men are under notice.
§ Sir R. BLAIRasked the Secretary of State for Air whether the places of some ex-service men dismissed from his Department have been filled by girls from the Ministry of Health and elsewhere; and what is the reason for this procedure?
Captain GUESTAltogether seven permanent women clerks have been appointed to the Air Ministry from other Departments. Three of these were assigned by the Civil Service Commissioners to take the place of temporary women clerks who had left the Air Ministry. Four women clerks were transferred from the Ministry of Health in order to complete the small quota of women clerks which the Air Council had decided to employ. They1240W were all permanent civil servants of some 7 to 11 years' standing, and entered by means of competitive examination. The four men whom they replaced entered for the special competitive examination held in 1920, but failed to qualify.