§ Lieut.-Colonel CAMPIONasked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of officers, and other ranks whose education is good, who have applied to the Appointments Department. but for whom no employment has at present been found; and what is the average length of time required to find employment for applicants?
§ Mr. WARDLEThe number of ex-officers and men of similar educational qualifications who are registered with the Appointments Department as applicants for work, but for whom no work has yet been found, is about 19,000. I may add that about 15,000 applicants are known to have obtained employment through the Appointments Department. I am afraid it is not possible to state the average length of time required to find employment for an applicant. A man with good technical qualifications may be placed within a few days. Others, less highly qualified, or without professional or business experience, or with clerical experience only, may be very difficult to place, more especially if the applicant has stipulated for a salary above the standard at which his qualifications are valued by the average employer.