§ Mr. STANTONasked the Pensions Minister if he is aware that dissatisfaction is caused by the appointment of the Reverend R. Selwyn Roberts to the office-of Director of Training of discharged and demobilised sailors and soldiers for the Welsh region; will he state the reason for this appointment being given to anyone other than a discharged sailor or soldier; will lie inquire if the wife of this-official has also been given a Government appointment; what their joint salary amounts to; and will he reconsider this appointment and give sailors and soldiers who fought for our country a chance of such appointments?
§ Sir R. HORNEI have been asked to reply to this question. I am aware that the appointment in question has caused some dissatisfaction; but I am satisfied, having regard to Mr. Roberts' personal qualifications and his long experience of administrative and educational work in Wales, that the appointment was fully justified and was in the best interests or the discharged and demobilised men in the Principality. I should add that at the time of Mr. Roberts' appointment to his present post he was already a member of 705W the staff of the Ministry of Labour, and that in accordance with the normal practice of the Department the post which be vacated was filled by an ex-Service man, in this instance an ex-officer. I am not aware that his wife holds any Government appointment; she is certainly not on the staff of the Ministry of Labour.