§ Mr. GRAYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has had submitted to him by the Ministry of Pensions a claim made by certain temporary salaried officers in that Ministry to be appointed to permanent posts above the basic clerical grade either in that Ministry or elsewhere; whether, in view of the progressive decrease in public business which has taken place since the Armistice and still continues, he will consider the desirability of absorbing all existing permanent officers into their appropriate grades before appointing to such grades officers at present temporarily employed; and whether he will give an assurance that in any event the views of representatives of the permanent staff will be sought and considered before any step is taken with regard to the claim in question?
Mr. GRAHAMThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; to the second and third, that the general question thus raised would appear to fall within the terms of reference of the Southborough Committee, who will, no doubt, hear such evidence thereon as is necessary.
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§ Mr. GRAYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Southborough Committee will be reconstituted in time to report as to the possibility of further opportunities for the establishment of temporary women clerks before the present notices issued to women with dependants in the Ministry of Pensions expire?
Mr. GRAHAMI understand that the Southborough Committee is about to resume its sittings to deal with the remainder of the reference already made to it in regard to the employment of ex-service men in the Civil Service. Questions in regard to temporary women clerks in the Ministry of Pensions should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions.