§ Mr. BROMLEYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that under previous Governments efforts have been made to reduce overtime to a minimum when girls were being demobilised from the Service; and whether he is now prepared to give an assurance that efforts will be made by Departments to employ experienced extemporary Government women clerks rather than to employ the permanent staff on overtime?
§ Mr. R. McNEILLI am aware that the facts are as stated. It is the policy of the present Government to reduce overtime to a minimum, but the hon. Member will realise that at times of special pressure the services of existing trained staff may be essential and that it is not always possible to avoid overtime by employing further temporary staff. With reference to the last part of the question, I would remind the hon. Member that it is the declared policy of the Government to give preference for such vacancies as exist to ex-service men.
§ Mr. GOSLINGasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what efforts he is making to alleviate the problem of unemployment amongst those temporary men and women with many years Government service; whether he is aware that under the previous administration hours were reduced and overtime was abolished; and whether he is prepared to make the same efforts himself, so that the Government service does not add to the numbers claiming unemployment benefit at this juncture?
§ Mr. McNEILLI am not aware that under any administration it has been possible to abolish overtime. For the rest, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question to-day asked by the hon. Member for Barrow-in-Furness (Mr. Bromley).