§ Mr. R. Morganasked the Minister of Labour whether his Department is consulted by other Government Departments before they appoint as temporary civil servants men of military age who thereby secure exemption; if this is not the case, what control exists of such service evaders; and whether he can investigate specific cases of the kind brought to his notice?
§ Mr. BevinIt is the practice of Government Departments to recruit war-time staff through the registers maintained by my Department apart from cases of special urgency or other exceptional circumstances. Men of military age appointed to Government Departments since 3rd December, 1941, cannot be retained in such posts except by individual deferment by the Ministry of Labour, unless they were already reserved in their previous occupation and are above the age of reservation for the new post. The retention in Government service of all civil servants below the current ages of reservation will be subject to review by the Kennet Committee.