§ Mr. RAPERasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that 2,000 more ex-service men have now received notices of dismissal from Government Departments; that the Ministry of Labour are discharging disabled ex-service men whilst women are retained to do similar work to the men discharged; that 13,000 women are being retained in the Ministry of Pensions on work which, in a number of instances, could be done by ex-service men; that hundreds of ex-service men are being dismissed from the Air Ministry, whilst non-service men are being retained at Kidbrooke, etc.; that 100 ex-service men have received their final notices from the Admiralty, whilst the non-service people who were also under notice have had their notices cancelled for the time being, and that during the last month or so the ex-service staff has been reduced from 57,000 to 51,000, whilst the temporary staff (women) has been reduced only from 40,000 to 39,000: and, in view of the great hardship which would thereby be inflicted on the ex-service men and of the fact that the Lytton Committee Report has been 641W carried out neither in the letter nor in the spirit, will he appoint a Committee to inquire into the whole question of the retaining of such a large non-service staff, both men and women, and cancel all dismissal notices, so far as the ex service men are concerned, until such Committee has issued its Report?
Mr. YOUNGThe actual number of ex-service men who have been reported since 1st November to the Joint Substitution Board as about to become redundant in Government Departments in London and in the South-East of England is less than 200, and in a number of these cases Departments hope to be able to suspend the notices given. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the third part, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24th October by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions to the hon. and gallant Member for Hertford (Rear-Admiral Sueter).
The number of ex-service men at present under notice of discharge from the Air Ministry is 83. At Kidbrooke, out of a total temporary staff, employed on clerical duties, of about 180, there are eight who are not ex-service men who are not under notice of discharge. Two of these eight are retained on grounds of hardship, on the recommendations of the local Substitution Committee, five are retained temporarily on grounds of special efficiency, and the case of the eighth is still under consideration. At the Admiralty the notices of 13 non-service personnel have been extended until the end of this month on grounds either of very great hardship or special efficiency; their retention for this short period has not involved the discharge of any ex-service man. During the period in which the number of ex-service men temporarily employed decreased from 57,400 to 51,400, the number of women temporarily employed decreased from 46,600 to 39,300. With regard to the last part of my hon. Friend's question, I am satisfied that every effort is being made to give effect to the recommendations of Lord Lytton's Committee, and I am unable to accede to the suggestion for the appointment of a further Committee and the cancellation of notices and discharges pending such Committee's report.