§ Mr. Glenvil Hallasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that men have been sent by Employment Exchanges in districts as far apart as Richmond and Tottenham to his Ministry as applicants for vacancies as temporary clerks; that they were kept waiting five hours and were then offered posts at 62s. a week in London or 58s. in the Provinces and were required to give a guarantee to go where required; if these wages are in accordance with Civil Service scales; and what provision is made for married men sent to the Provinces?
§ Sir W. WomersleyCandidates sent by the Employment Exchanges for consideration for employment are interviewed with the least possible delay, and it has only been on a rare occasion that, owing to pressure, they have unavoidably been detained for any appreciable time. The 663W rates of wages quoted are in accordance with the general Civil Service rates for temporary clerks.
In view of the possibility of evacuation, applicants who would be quite unable to accept transfer to the Provinces, and would have to be discharged should this become necessary, are not normally accepted. There is, however, no question of requiring them to furnish anything in the nature of a guarantee. Temporary clerks who are recruited for employment in London and who may subsequently accept the Department's specific invitation to accompany the Department on evacuation to the Provinces may be granted the same concessions in regard to billeting charges as apply to established civil servants.