§ Lieut.-Colonel JAMESasked the Secretary of State for Air whether arrangements are in contemplation for the recruitment of non-service technical staff while ex-service men are at present under notice or warning of discharge, and the nature of the duties for which recruitment is being made?
§ Sir S. HOARERegulations are in course of preparation under which it is intended to recruit staff to permanent posts in the basic professional grades of assistant civil engineer, assistant mechanical and electrical engineer and assistant surveyor in the Directorate of Works and Buildings. These Regulations will provide for preference to be given to candidates who have served in His Majesty's Forces and an extension of the age limit will be allowed in respect of their service2088W with the Forces. No ex-service man is under notice or warning of discharge as a result of the proposed scheme.
§ Lieut.-Colonel JAMESasked the Secretary of State for Air which, if any, permanent unestablished grades, other than clerical, have been created in the Air Ministry?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe only permanent non-pensionable grade in the Air Ministry, other than clerical, is that of messenger.
§ Lieut.-Colonel JAMESasked the Secretary of State for Air the number of ex-service men in the Directorates of Works and Buildings and technical development who are now temporarily employed, and who have been so employed for upwards of 12 months, who have not been established; and the reasons why these ex-service officers have not been established?
§ Sir S. HOAREAs regards the first part of the question, the numbers asked for are as follow:
Higher Staff. Junior Staff. Directorate of Works and Buildings: Headquarters 22 72 Outstations 65 166 Directorate of Technical Development: Headquarters 10 3 Outstations 11 17 As regards the second part of the question, a scheme of establishment was recently introduced for the higher staff of the Directorate of Works and Buildings, and those who are now temporarily employed (as shown above) are men, who, except in a few cases, are borne in posts which are not expected to be permanent, and who either declined establishment or were not regarded as suitable for established appointments. The question of establishing members of the junior staff has been complicated by revisions of gradings and scales of pay, some of which have only recently been settled. It is, however, in contemplation to arrange a scheme of establishment for these grades as soon as certain questions at present outstanding have been settled. The scheme will of course only apply to such posts as are expected to be permanent. As regards the higher staff of the Directorate of Technical Development, 28 2089W ex-service men have recently received established appointments, but it is necessary to maintain a margin of unestablished posts to provide for a possible reduction of work. The junior staff temporarily employed have either been rejected for establishment on account of age or ill-health or are employed in posts which have not been approved on a permanent basis.