§ Sir P. Hannonasked the Minister of Labour whether he will indicate the measures which he has adopted for the provision of employment for members of the Defence Services who, for any reason, may have been discharged since the outbreak of war?
§ Mr. E. BevinI assume that the hon. Member refers to members of the Civil Defence (General) Services and of the National Fire Service. In general members of these Services who have been discharged have the same opportunities for obtaining new employment through the Employment Exchange system as persons discharged from work in other occupations. In April this year, however, special arrangements were made to deal with the transfer to industry of men and women becoming available through the reduction of the establishment of the Civil Defence (General) Services. In July similar arrangements were made as regards the National Fire Service. These arrangements provided procedure for selecting first the most suitable individuals for release to fill vacancies in the most urgently needed occupations. The number placed or in course of placing under these arrangements is approximately 24,000.