§ Sir S. HOAREasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the fact that, whilst there are only 46,000 ex-service men temporary employés in the Government service, there are still not less than 60,000 temporary employés who are not ex-service men; and whether in the proposed reduction of the staffs of Government offices preferential treatment will be given to ex-service men?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HURSTasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the temporary employés of Government Departments number about 106,000, of whom 46,000 are ex-service men; whether he can give an assurance that the projected diminution in the numbers employed will not affect the ex-service men; 1062W whether former conscientious objectors are still employed in the Civil Service; and, if so, whether these persons will be dismissed first?
Mr. YOUNGThere were employed in a temporary capacity on the 1st May last, 55,000 ex-service men, 9,000 non-service men and 47,000 women. Of the latter a large proportion are employed upon work specially appropriate to women. I am not aware of any Departments in which conscientious objectors are temporarily employed. I cannot guarantee continued employment, irrespective of the requirements of the work, to any temporary employés, but when reductions in staff are effected, preferential treatment is accorded to ex-service men.