§ Sir R. Askeasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of ex-service men suffering from disability in consequence of their service who are being employed on munition work or other work in connection with the rearmament programme; and whether he will take effective measures to ensure that as far as practicable all unemployed ex-service men are given employment on such work?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThe number of disabled ex-service men employed at War Department establishments was 3,545 on 1st April, 1938, which is the latest date for which a centralised record is available, and it is the practice to give all possible preference for employment in these establishments to ex-service men.
As regards War Department contractors, figures are not available, but in the placing of contracts it is the custom to recommend the maximum measure of employment of ex-service men, and, save in exceptional circumstances, to confine contracts to firms on the King's National Roll. As my hon. and learned Friend is no doubt aware, admission to the Roll is 1493W conditional on an undertaking to employ an agreed minimum percentage of disabled ex-service men.