§ Viscount CURZONasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that arrangements have been made to examine-ex-service clerks in the work they have performed for from three to eight years in the War Office, and that disabled ex-service men, irrespective of their War disabilities, have no preference over able-bodied ex-service men; and is he prepared to postpone this examination until after the final Report of the Southborough Committee?
§ Major ATTLEEI have been asked to reply. The examination to which reference is made is similar to those held in other Departments for affording ex-service men temporarily employed a special chance of entry to the permanent service. I may say that entry to the grade of ex-soldier clerk in the War Office is normally confined to soldiers who have served on regular attestations, but, for this occasion only in view of the special circumstances of the case, the chance of1942W entry to this grade is being extended to all ex-service men serving in the War Office on 1st July, 1923, who had by that date rendered at least one year's approved service. The statements made by candidates on their application forms in reply to the questions relating to war disabilities will be before the Civil Service Commissioners when the award of marks for their work is made, and every possible consideration will be given to the circumstances of the particular case. In view of the facts that there are approximately 700 temporary ex-service men eligible for consideration for only 60 vacancies, and that preliminary investigations in the War Office have shown the practical impossibility of equitably differentiating between the claims of these men, I consider that the proposed examination is necessary, both in the interests of the clerks and the Department, and I am not, therefore, in favour of a postponement.
§ Viscount CURZONasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that disabled ex-service men are being discharged, or are about to be discharged, from Government Departments; whether he is aware that, owing to the state of unemployment generally, and their increasing disability owing to age or wounds, there is little hope for such men when discharged being able to obtain employment; and, in view of these facts, will he suspend all discharges of disabled men pending the return of better conditions for labour generally, and abolish all overtime in Government Departments?
Mr. GRAHAMI am aware that a certain number of ex-service men, of whom some are disabled, as well as other personnel, will have to be discharged now or in the near future from Government Departments in which they have been temporarily employed. I regret that I am unable to direct or sanction the retention of staff in excess of that required by the work of the several Departments of State, but as the Noble Lord is no doubt aware every effort is made to avoid the discharges of competent disabled men, and when such discharges are necessary they are given preference for fresh employment in vacancies arising in other Departments. With regard to the question of overtime, every effort is made to reduce overtime in Government offices to the narrowest possible limits, with special reference to the 1943W prevailing unemployment; and so far as I am aware, no overtime is being worked which could be avoided, with due regard to the despatch of business, by the engagement of additional staff or by the postponement of discharge of redundant staffs.