§ Sir J. NORTON-GRIFFITHSasked the Minister of Labour whether he will indi- 1787W cate the principle on which is based, and the authority who decides upon, the order of the dismissals of ex-service men employed in his Department; and whether, in view of the impending reductions of employés, he can promise that preference will be shown to married men?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe general principles governing the order of discharge of temporary ex-service men in the Ministry of Labour were agreed with representatives of the staff on the Departmental Whitley Council. I am forwarding my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the Departmental instructions on the subject, from which he will see that, other considerations being equal, preference in the matter of retention may be given to members of the temporary staff whose discharge would in the opinion of the Department involve exceptional hardship. It is, of course, the practice, other things being equal, to give preference for retention to married men. I may add that no temporary ex-service man leaves the service of the Ministry without my personal sanction.