§ Mr. SITCHasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mr. A. Cooke was employed at the Clapham Junction Employment Exchange in September, 1918, and not in December of that year; that the admission now made that he was assigned to special duties was previously denied by his Department; that Mr. Cooke tendered a week's notice, and was thereupon given eleven days' leave, to which he was entitled, and then dismissed, which, in effect, meant that he was dismissed without working out the week's notice or being paid a week's salary in lieu; that Mr. Cooke was never informed that he had been reverted to the ordinary duties of a temporary clerk with a consequent reduction in pay; and whether he will have further inquiries made into this case in order that he may become possessed of the facts, with a view to meeting the claim for a week's salary in lieu of notice and for the extra rate due to Mr. Cooke from the 1st April until his discharge?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe date of Mr. Cooke's appointment was September, not December, 1918; but the mistake made in the answer to the hon. Member's previous question does not affect the question at issue. I am not aware that the Department has ever denied that Mr. Cooke was at one time assigned to special duties; nor do I assert that he was informed in2006W so many words of his transfer to ordinary duties. There is, however, no question as to the fact of his having been so transferred, Mr. Cooke gave notice on the 16th July of his intention to terminate his engagement. Under the terms of this notice his services would have ceased on the 24th July. He was instead allowed to take eleven days' annual leave on full pay, and he actually ceased duty on the 31st July. In this connection, I may point out that no officer in the Government service has any inalienable right to annual leave. The grant of such leave is in all cases subject to the requirements of the public service and may be withheld at the discretion of the Department. I am satisfied that Mr. Cooke has not been harshly or unjustly treated; and I ant unable to recognise his claims as having any valid foundation.