§ Sir C. CAYZERasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of ex-service men temporarily employed as sorting clerks in the Post Office who are not included in the agreement between the Treasury and the Association of Ex-Service Civil Servants, distinguishing between those whose service, though temporary, has been continuous and those whose work is styled casual through intermittent employment?
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§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI have been asked to answer this question. I am having inquiry made, and kill Communicate with my hon. Friend.
§ Sir H. NIELDasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the grievance of the ex-service members of the Post Office Manipulative Grades Association to the alleged disparity of treatment in relation to the examination required to be passed by these men as compared with ex-service temporary civil servants, and that, whereas the former class are required to obtain a minimum of 60 per cent. of 1,000 marks on a relatively severer test, the latter for similar appointments are only required to obtain a minimum of 250; whether he is aware that this examination is the final and only opportunity for ex-service men in the Post Office manipulative grades to compete for these appointments, and that they have years of established service to their credit with practically no other avenues of advancement; and whether he is prepared to take any action in the matter?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI have been asked to answer this question. I would refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given to a similar question by the hon. Member for Finchley (Mr. Cadogan) on 24th February.
§ Sir H. NIELDasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the statement contained in paragraph 26 of the Southborough Committee's Report that in their opinion, having regard to the recommendations made for the benefit of ex-service men temporarily employed, the claims of members of the manipulative grades in that department should be sympathetically considered in order that there might be no suggestion that they have been unfairly treated in the light of the special arrangements made for ex-service men employed in a temporary capacity; and, as this Report was accepted by the late Government and its findings have been extended by the present one in favour of the ex-service temporary civil servant, will he ensure that the inequality of treatment in relation to the examination test shall be remedied and the conditions made the same in all respects-
Mr. GUINNESSI would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply which I 255W gave on the 26th February to the hon. Member for the City of Chester (Sir C. Cayzer), from which he will see that a Committee of the Post Office Departmental Whitley Council is at present considering, in the light of the recommendation of the Southborough Committee to which he refers, the question of modifying the existing arrangements in regard to the appointment of members of the manipulative staff of the Post Office to posts in the clerical grades.