§ Lieut.-Colonel POWNALLasked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, how many non-service men and how many women are employed in the Office of Works Department in a temporary capacity; and what steps he is taking to secure that the posts held by such personnel shall be filled by ex-service men who have been discharged from Government Departments and are now awaiting re-allocation?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe numbers of non-service men and women (exclusive of typing staff) employed in the Department in a temporary capacity are as follow
(a) Clerical Staff:Ninety-six per cent. of the temporary clerical staff employed in the Department are ex-service men. The non-service staff consists of 15 men and four women.>When it is possible to dispense with the services of this staff, the posts will be filled, as far as possible, by the appointment of permanent officers of the clerical class.(b) Technical Staff:Seventy per cent. of the temporary technical staff are ex-service men. The non-service staff consists of 147 men and five women.A Departmental Substitution Committee has been formed to consider the possibility of replacing this staff with ex-service men, provided candidates with the necessary technical or professional qualifications can be obtained.