Mrs. Adamsonasked the Secretary of State for War whether it is the policy of his Department to release serving soldiers from clerical and allied duties at the War Office wherever possible; and whether he will, in order to assist in reducing civilian unemployment, ensure that wherever possible, clerical work in the War Office is performed by civilians?
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§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThe answer to both parts of the question is "Yes, Sir."
Mrs. Adamsonasked the Secretary of State for War how many of the serving soldiers employed at the War Office on the 5th April last, who were being trained for active-service duties, are still serving at the War Office; and when it is anticipated that these will be released for the service for which they were then being trained?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaAll the serving soldiers employed at the War Office on 5th April last who were specifically allocated for active service duties on mobilisation have been released for those duties.
§ Mr. McEnteeasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the staff organisations in his Department have drawn attention to the increasing employment of military personnel on purely clerical duties side by side with civilians; whether that, in some cases, they have actually displaced civilians; and whether, as the employment of military personnel is in many cases more expensive than the employment of civilian staffs, he will, in the interests of military efficiency and economy, and in order to assist in reducing unemployment, see that civilian clerks are employed in future on what is purely clerical work?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaLarge numbers of civilian clerks are engaged on the clerical work of the Army, both inside and outside the War Office, and the numbers have increased considerably since the outbreak of war. The question whether any particular post should be filled by a soldier or civilian is considered on its merits in each case.