§ Major BARKERasked the Minister of Health whether he will have inquiries made into the case of twenty men who before the War were employed as temporary clerks in the offices of the Lancashire Insurance Committee; is he aware that on volunteering for military service they were given assurance of their reinstatement on their return to civil life; that during their military service their Army pay was made up by the Committee to the full amount of their civil pay and that these men have been summarily dismissed and presented with £50 each, their posts being filled by the female labour that was taken on in their absence; and what steps does he propose to take to rectify this injustice?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe case of the temporary clerks referred to in the question was brought to my notice some little time ago, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour offered to refer the matter for investigation to the local employment committee for Preston. The result of that investigation has just reached me, and is not such as to suggest that the Lancashire Insurance Committee1654W acted without due regard to the special claims to consideration of ex-Service men returning to civil life. The question of the personnel employed on the staff of an insurance committee in any case is a matter within the entire discretion of the insurance committee.