§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that cases, of which examples have been given him, have occurred in which the procedure agreed upon between the universities and his Department for the allocation of graduates in scarcity categories of science and technology, has been set aside, and certain firms have been authorised by officers of his Department to engage the 170W graduates in their service without the latter having been interviewed and reported on by the University Joint Recruiting Board, expressly instituted to secure the allocation, by an expert body, of graduates to their proper place in the national effort; and whether he will take steps to stop this practice?
§ Mr. BevinI cannot agree that there has been any departure from the procedure which has been agreed with the universities. Under this procedure, while the University Joint Recruiting Boards may make recommendations with regard to the allocation of men with technical qualifications to appropriate technical service in the forces or in civilian life, it is for me to make the final decisions. In the case to which my hon. Friend refers my Department was already in possession of sufficient knowledge of the men concerned to make a provisional allocation.