Colonel NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Education why the orphaned daughter of a Regular soldier, who is living in rooms, has no means of her own and would be unable to retain her rooms on 12s. unemployment benefit, and who is sitting for the forthcoming special establishment examination, has been dismissed in order that she may be replaced by a non-disabled ex-service man; and whether the Board intends to replace such women by single non-disabled ex-service men who have not had previous clerical or professional experience, but have had experience in a manipulative trade?
Mr. LEWISThe temporary woman clerk in question was discharged under the provisions of the Lytton Report on the appointment of ex-service men to posts in the Civil Service. All the material circumstances of her case, together with those of others were carefully considered by a Substitution Committee set up in this Department, which included a representative of temporary women clerks, and the Board have acted on the Committee's recommendations. 2137W As regards the last part of the question, the ex-service men who are posted to the Department under the Lytton Eeport are appointed on the recommendation of the Joint Substitution Board, which body, I am informed, satisfies itself in all cases that the individuals submitted are qualified to perform the clerical duties required of them.