§ Mr. PIELOUasked the Minister of Pensions whether in the appointment of temporary officials in his Department to the position of permanent non-pension-able salaried staff preferential treatment has been given to officials in any particular department of the Ministry; and why, in view of the number of officials in the local administration department, so large a proportion of permanent officials has been made in that section?
§ Major TRYONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. More than one-half of the whole of the Ministry's staff of temporary officials, who were eligible for consideration, were employed in the local offices and headquarters of the local administration division, and the number of permanent posts allotted to them, which is less than 60 per cent., is not out of proportion to their numbers and merits.
§ Mr. PIELOUasked the Minister of Pensions whether selection of temporary officials in his Department, who have been appointed to the permanent non-pension-able salaried class, has been made by the departmental heads of the Ministry and, if so, what, method was adopted; whether, in deciding the appointments, priority was given to disabled ex-service men, overseas ex-service men, and other ex-service men, in that order: and, if so, the numbers in each category?
§ Major TRYONThe recommendation of temporary officials for appointment to the permanent non-pension-able salaried class was entrusted to a special committee appointed by me after consultation with representatives of the staff concerned. In making the selection, the relative efficiency of the officers was taken into consideration, preference being given to disabled men and men 61W who had served overseas. The number of selected candidates in the different categories is as follows:
Disabled (still in receipt of pension or allowance) 75 Disabled (disability pension lapsed) 55 Overseas, not disabled 65 Other ex-service men 5 Total 200