§ Sir W. SUGDENasked the Minister of Labour why he has created a joint 1956W panel for a review of ex-Service S-class clerks and female staff of that Department for promotion to the established clerical classes, also why he has decided to allot the promotions in proportion to the numbers in each of the grades concerned formed by the panel to be qualified for promotion; will he state the reason for the apparent departure for the policy of preference for ex-Service men serving in the S-class as often expressed; and will he give instructions that the ex-Service men who have considerable previous experience shall have definite preference for the posts in those classes which are about to be filled?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONS-class clerks, writing assistants and members of the typing grades are all eligible for promotion to the clerical classes and a panel of the promotions board is reviewing the qualifications for promotion of members of all these classes. Promotions will be allotted as described by my hon. Friend in pursuance of an agreement reached between the two sides of the Departmental Whitley Council. This involves no departure from the Government's policy of preference for ex-Service men in the matter of employment in the Civil Service, and I am satisfied that the course which I have adopted in the present instance is reasonable.