§ Mr. S. Marshallasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the entire civilian personnel in the six clothing depots were given notice to terminate their employment on 23rd March; that 85 per cent. of them are ex-Servicemen of the 1914–18 war, and some of the 1939— 45 war; and what steps are being taken to carry out the Army Council Instruction that all possible attempts should be made to retain these men in Service employment.
§ Mr. Lawson:On 23rd March, 1946, six of the ten Civilian Clothing (Demobilisation) Depots closed, as the rate of demobilisation has dropped to such an extent that four depots only will be sufficient to meet future requirements. There is no opportunity of the War Department's using these men's special qualifications except in the civilian clothing depots. I am not clear which Army Council Instruction the hon. Member has in mind, but I assume that it is the one which states that when redundancy arises in a 296W War Department establishment civilian employees should be retained so far as practicable by posting elsewhere the Service personnel engaged on similar work in the same establishment. This, however, cannot be applied to the case of an establishment which is being dispensed with altogether.
The possibility of replacing military personnel in the four remaining depots by civilians who might be ready to go there from the depots which have been closed has been carefully examined but it is impracticable to reduce the -present proportion of Service posts in these particular establishments.