§ Sir A. HOLBROOKasked the Minister of Pensions whether, seeing that his Department is now employing 374 non- 687W service men and 11,324 women, he will consider the substitution of ex-service men where possible; whether ex-service men who are accountants are now being dismissed in various Departments or are being offered low-grade clerkships; and whether he will consider the absorption of these accountants in his Department?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply to his question of the 28th February last. In the Ministry, as a whole, of the male staff, 96.5 are ex-service men. The number of temporary non-service men and women in the accounts branches of the Ministry who are substituable under the terms of the Reports of Lord Lytton's Committee is very small and is being reduced rapidly. It is improbable that I shall require the services of additional qualified accountants in the near future to fill temporary appointments.