§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why a number of temporary Government clerks are to be dismissed to make room for the successful candidates in a recent open competitive examination; whether any saving in expenditure will be thereby effected or the reverse; whether he is aware that the bulk of these men are ex-service men; and whether he will at any rate give an assurance that married men shall be the last to be dismissed?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe hon. and gallant Member is under a misapprehension. Ex-service men are not being discharged from Government Departments to make way for successful candidates from any open competitive examination. I may, however, explain that in accordance with the recommendations of Lord Lytton's Committee, a competition, limited to ex-service men temporarily employed in Government Departments, was held last August for posts in the clerical class, and it is possible that unqualified candidates may be required to give way to ex-service men, who qualified at this competition. The Lytton Committee further recom-3200W mended that the normal order of discharge of ex-service men temporarily employed should be (i) home service men, (ii) overseas men, and (iii) disabled men. Subject to this principle, and to the overriding consideration of efficiency, regard is had, however, wherever possible, both to the personal circumstances of the men in question and to any representations which the ex-service associations may wish to make in individual cases.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the setting up of a select committee to inquire into the position of ex-service men absorbed into the Civil Service under the terms of the Lytton Committee with a view to a review of the initial salaries granted to these men, and to securing that they shall not suffer by accepting permanent as against temporary employment?
§ Mr. BALDWINThis question was fully considered by the Lytton Committee, and I am not prepared to agree to a further inquiry. I should perhaps add that I do not accept the implication in the hon. Member's question that these men suffer by taking permanent as against temporary employment.