HC Deb 21 June 1920 vol 130 cc1781-3W
Mr. REMER

asked the Minister of Labour what is the monthly cost of administering his Department at Horrex's Hotel and the Howard Hotel, respectively; what is the number of the respective staffs, and how many of these staffs are voluntary helpers on the panel and selection boards; the number of applicants who are interviewed at these two hotels on an average each week and the number of applicants who have been found employment; and whether he has any information as to the number of vacancies at present at the disposal of these two Departments?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I would explain that Horrex's Hotel is the headquarters of the London Directorate of the Appointments Department, and, as such, carries out duties of a different character from those of the Central Selection Board which sits in the office of the Divisional Controller, Employment Department, London and South-Eastern Division, at Howard's Hotel, for the purpose of interviewing ex-service men who are candidates for temporary posts in Government Departments. This Selection Board receives its candidates from both the Appointments Department and from the Employment Exchanges.

The approximate average monthly cost of the staff of the Ministry of Labour employed in administering these two organisations during the period from 1st January to 31st May, 1920, was:—

  1. (i) Horrex's Hotel, £4,120; and
  2. (ii) Howard's Hotel, Selection Board, £370.

(The cost of premises is not included in these figures.)

The numbers of the respective staffs are:—

  1. (i) Horrex's Hotel, 220; but, in addition, there are about 450 voluntary helpers, who assist the Appointments Department Director in the work of interviewing and placing in employment ex-officers and other ex-service men of similar standing.
  2. (ii) Howard's Hotel, 18; but, in addition, two representatives of the Civil Service Commission also sit on this Board. There are no voluntary helpers attached to this organisation.
The average number of applicants interviewed weekly during the period from 1st January to 31st May, 1920, was:—
  1. (i) 1,934 at Horrex's Hotel; and
  2. (ii) 314 at the Selection Board, Howard's Hotel.
The weekly average of applicants placed in employment during the period from 1st January to 31st May, 1920, by
  1. (i) Horrex's Hotel was 205, and
  2. (ii) Howard's Hotel Selection Board, 204.

The number of vacancies at present at the disposal of Horrex's Hotel is 401. In the case of Howard's Hotel, it is not possible to give any figure which would not be misleading, since vacancies, which are periodically notified to the Selection Board, are generally filled almost immediately after notification.

Mr. REMER

asked the Minister of Labour why no notice was sent to the post offices (mentioned in Form X73) at the end of May of the closing of the seven Metropolitan sub-offices where Commissioners sat, and that two new offices had been opened; whether this omission provides evidence of the inefficiency of the establishment officer primarily responsible and of the new Controller ultimately responsible; whether the Controller's scheme of reconstruction forms a part of the subject of this question; whether this subject-matter provides evidence of careful consideration being given to their late comrades-in-arms on the part of these ex-service officers of whom the staff is now almost entirely composed; and whether he is aware that the result of this chaos is that applicants for aid arrived at closed offices and had to travel from one end of London to the other, wasting both their time and money?

Dr. MACNAMARA

The changes referred to in my hon. Friend's question are the substitution of Examining Commissioners, with power to decide cases locally, for the old part-time Commissioners, without this power. This new system has been in operation less than a month, and where the changes have involved the closing of old offices and the opening of new ones, the post offices concerned have been informed locally. The points mentioned in the remainder of my hon. Friend's question do not, therefore, appear to arise. I should be glad, however, if my hon. Friend would personally visit the Civil Liabilities Department, when I think he will find that there is no foundation for his suggestion that there is disorganisation in that Department. On the contrary, I am grateful to the staff for the industry with which arrears have been overtaken, and with which current applications are dealt.