§ Mr. ROWLANDSasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that about 100 discharged and demobilised soldiers who had been given civil employment at the Army Pay Office, Upper Thames Street, were discharged on 27th and 30th June; whether young women employés are being retained at this office while many of these demobilised men are now unemployed in circumstances of considerable hardship; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. FORSTERI find, on inquiry, that the only female staff retained at this Pay office in preference to men consists of (a) young girls under eighteen years of age employed on jobs which are not men's work, and (b) trained women, dependent on their earnings, who could not be re-placed by untrained ex-soldiers with due regard to the efficiency of the office. I understand the ex-soldiers claim that no regard should be paid to efficiency. In view of the importance to all soldiers of the correct settlement of their accounts, I cannot admit this claim.