§ Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that an Acton lance-corporal has been declared by the Civil Employment Register to be ineligible for postal employment owing to his having had one drunk recorded against him; that the soldier in question had this lapse while serving in India the year before the War, since when ho has fought in France, been wounded, and later taken prisoner and kept a. prisoner for two years, and that the Civil Employment Register attribute to the Post Office regulation their refusal to give him work; and whether, in view of these facts, the Post Office will amend the regulation and ensure that men who have good war records shall not be penalised for minor pre-war lapses?
§ Mr. PEASEUnder an agreement with the War Office ex-soldiers are not put forward for appointment as postmen if they have had an entry for drunkenness during the last six years of their service with the Colours. The case referred to by the hon. Member was dealt with in accordance with this rule. Personally I sympathise with the individual referred to, but it should be remembered that the number of applicants for Post Office employment is far greater than the number of posts available; and in the circumstances I think it is right to give a preference to the men with clear records.