§ Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the large number of men of military age in Government Departments occupying posts for which they have no previous qualification or experience; and what steps he proposes to take in view of the combing of industrial organisations?
§ Mr. BevinThe general question of further withdrawal of non-industrial civil servants of military age from the Government Service was examined by the Kennet Committee and, as a result of their recommendations, the ages of reservation were fixed for the present at 35 for men in the clerical grades, 30 for men in the administrative, executive, professional and technical grades; men so reserved include some who have been appointed to the Service since the outbreak of war. Those not so reserved have been retained in the Civil Service only where they possess appropriate qualifications or experience. All such cases either carry the specific approval of the Ministry of Labour and National Service before appointment or have been, or will be, reviewed by the Kennet Committee. I am satisfied that such men are not indefinitely retained in Government Service except where it is in the national interest to retain them.