§ Sir D. Thomsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with regard to paragraph 4 of C.S.C. 5, which deals with the entry into the Civil Service of ex-Service men and women, he will waive the stipulation that candidates must have remained at school until the age of 16 or have obtained a higher leaving certificate in order that no ex-Service man or woman who can now pass the necessary examination may be prevented from entering.
§ Mr. DaltonNo, Sir. These educational qualifications are an essential part of the scheme of Civil Service recruitment which Parliament has already approved.
§ Lieut. - Colonel Bromley - Davenportasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will extend to all Service personnel the present concession granted to Regular soldiers whereby men over 36 1291W years of age can sit for the special reconstruction examinations for the clerical classes of the Civil Service since many Servicemen volunteered for Service in the late thirties.
§ Mr. DaltonNo, Sir. The arrangements which have been announced have been very carefully considered, and I am not prepared to change them now.
§ Sir I. Fraserasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will advertise more widely to serving and ex-Servicemen and women the advantages of the civil service as a career and the preference which is being given to them for the reconstruction examinations.
§ Mr. Glenvil HallA good deal has already been done; but I am anxious to secure the widest publicity and if the hon. and gallant Member has any suggestions I should be pleased to consider them.
§ Sir I. Fraserasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will keep open all vacancies for permanent employment in the administrative and executive grades until ex-Servicemen and women have had a full chance of sitting for the reconstruction examination.
§ Mr. Glenvil HallThe reconstruction competitions for these classes will continue for long enough to ensure that the last man or woman released from the Forces has as good a chance of competing as the first.
§ Sir I. Fraserasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will keep open all vacancies for permanent employment in the clerical grades until ex-Servicemen and women have had an opportunity of sitting for the reconstruction examination; and if he will increase the proportion of vacancies to be allocated to them above the present figure of 50 per cent.
§ Mr. Glenvil HallThe reconstruction competitions for these classes will continue for long enough to ensure that the last man or woman released from the Forces has as good a chance of competing as the first. The quota of 50 per cent. for the Clerical Class is reserved as a minimum only for ex-Servicemen; it is part of the scheme already considered and approved by Parliament and I cannot hold out any hope of increasing it.