§ Mr. HOGGEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the recent assurances given that no writing assistant should be appointed involving the discharge of an ex-service man, he will give instructions that the recruitment of writing assistants shall immediately cease, since further recruitment of writing assistants at the present time incidentally results in the redundancy and discharge of competent ex-service clerks?
Mr. GRAHAMIn accordance with standing instructions, temporary ex-1418W service men are not discharged to make room for writing assistants. I understand that the assignment of writing assistants from the October, 1923, competition is practically complete. I am unable to make any announcement as to future recruitment pending the Report of the Southborough Committee, but I cannot accept the implication in the last sentence of the question.