§ Mr. E. BROWNasked the Minister of Labour whether, seeing that 89 men were discharged from Kew on the 4th and 5th November, that 74 are to be discharged on 14th November, and that there are 186 women employed at Kew on work which is also being done by many men at Kew, and since these women are paid clerical rates of pay which are not much less than those paid to the men, he can see his way to recall these notices of discharge to the men and consider whether, since the women employed have been specially protected and are so until 31st December, the time has now arrived when they may be given notice in preference to 163 ex-service men with seven to eight years' service?
§ sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe substitution of ex-service men for women clerks at the Kew office on what would normally be women's work has been carried a long way. The temporary women clerks still retained at the office are engaged upon a group of duties dealt with in the Second Report of the Southborough Committee, who reported that within this group there was no field for further substitution of temporary ex-service men for women. Accordingly, a reduction in the number of these temporary women clerks would not afford388W further opportunities for the employment of temporary ex-service men, and while I very much regret that the necessary reduction of staff should involve the discharge of ex-service men, I am afraid I cannot see my way to adopt the suggestion of the hon. Member.
Perhaps I ought to add that the figures given by the hon. Member refer to notices issued. Appeals on grounds of exceptional hardship have been considered, as is the usual practice. Thirty-nine of the notices have been cancelled for the time being on this account.