§ Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Minister of Labour whether an order has been issued that all clerks in employment exchanges in the Leeds and other districts are to be discharged and ex-service men employed in their places; whether he is aware that part of the alleged inefficiency of the exchanges is due to the lack of technical knowledge on the part of some officials in some exchanges regarding the important industries in their area; whether the wholesale discharge of experienced men and the employment of inexperienced men will add to the alleged inefficiency; and whether he will give discretionary powers to exchange managers to secure that the preference given to ex-service men is conditioned by their having equal technical capabilities to the men who are to be discharged?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo general order of the nature indicated has been issued. It is the case, however, that, in effecting reductions of temporary staff, necessitated by a diminution in the volume of work falling upon the exchanges, ex-service men are ordinarily retained in preference to men who have not served with the Forces. Indeed, all vacancies for temporary posts in the Ministry are, to the greatest extent possible, reserved for ex-service men.