§ Mr. Jannerasked the Minister of Labour how many ex-officers aged 45 years and over who left the Services under the run down scheme are out of employment; whether he is aware that industrialists are chary of employing men of this age; and what action he proposes to take to help such men fit in again to civilian life.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodOn 31st December, 1958, 422 ex-officers, prematurely retired, were registered with my Department as unemployed. Probably about half of these were over 45. I am aware that it is in general more difficult to secure industrial employment for ex-officers over 45 years of age than for younger men. A resettlement service for ex-regulars has been developed since 1957 with the help of the Resettlement Advisory Board and the Resettlement Committees in the Regions and I am glad to say that considerable numbers of older ex-officers have been re-settled.