§ Sir W. de FRECEasked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the numbers of soldiers leaving the Army within the last 12 months for whom employment has been obtained on the date of their discharge; and whether, to stimulate recruiting, he can improve the arrangements made for discharged soldiers re-entering civil life to obtain employment?
§ Mr. SHAWRecords are not available to show the number of soldiers who obtain employment on discharge, but during the year ended 31st March, 1930, 15,666 soldiers registered with the National Association for Employment of Regular Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen, of whom 6,700 were found permanent employment and 3,399 were found temporary employment. During the same period, 2,083 soldiers were trained at Army Vocational Training Centres, and of this number 1,825 were found employment. As regards the second part of the question, the Army Council have constantly under review the possibility of improving the soldier's chance of employment on his return to civil life and I am always glad to consider suggestions which have this end in view. I may add that instructions were issued at the beginning of this year which will increase the number of posts reserved for ex-service men in Government Departments. Although the arrangements have not long been in operation, there was an increase in the numbers appointed to such posts during the year ended 31st March last compared with the previous year. The Ministry of Labour have also recently agreed, as the result of consultation with the National Association for the Employment of Regular Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen, to representation being given, where praticable, to the National Association on the Local Employment Committees, with a view to 1793W greater co-ordination throughout the country between the Association and the Employment Exchanges in the work of placing ex-regulars in civil employment.