§ Mr. BENNETTasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that he has an agreement with the National Association for the Employment of Regular Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen, whereby 50 per cent. of the total vacancies in the Post Office are filled by ex-service men, he will state the number of such vacancies filled by ex-service men in each of the last seven years, together with the total vacancies filled in the periods mentioned?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONMy hon. Friend has presumably in mind the arrangement under which 50 per cent, of the vacancies on the classes of postmen and porters in the Post Office are filled by ex-service men. The figures prior to the year 1920 could not now be ascertained without considerable trouble. The figures for the classes of postmen and porters for 1920 and the following years are as follow:
Year. No. of vacancies filled by ex-service men. Total No. of vacancies 1920 … 3,517 4,466 1921 … 4,615 5,064 1922 … 1,878 2,329 1923 … 1,119 1,913 1924 … 1,300 2,376 1925 … 1,409 2,848 13,838 18,996