Captain BROWNasked the Minister of Labour whether he has received protesta- 1837W tions from the Comrades of the Great War and the Federation of Discharged Soldiers and Sailors in the county of Cumberland against the appointment by that county council of a civilian to the post of county surveyor and bridgemaster when there was an ex-soldier candidate for the post with equal qualifications; and if he will inquire into the case and, if satisfied that the country's pledge of preferential treatment to ex-soldiers has not been kept, will he bring pressure to bear to have the appointment reversed?
§ Mr. WARDLEI cannot find that any such protest has been received up to the present, but inquiries are being made in the matter and so soon as these are complete, I will communicate further with the hon. and gallant Member. I should add, however, that the Ministry of Labour have no jurisdiction over appointments by local authorities.