asked the Minister of Labour with reference to Appendix 3, paragraph 5, to the Report of the Committee of Public Accounts, 1945, and Questions 1357 to 1365 of the Minutes of Evidence, why no employment was offered to two agricultural workers during a period exceeding six months after their dismissal by a war agricultural executive committee had been reported to the National Service officer; and what was the approximate loss to public funds consequent upon this omission.
As the hon. Member is aware, over two years have elapsed since these cases originated. In one case the worker was offered other employment on a number of occasions, the first occasion being immediately after his dismissal by the War Agricultural Executive Committee, but the offers were refused. In the other case, the local officer of my Department for some reason which cannot now be ascertained did not make contact with the man until eight months after the date of his dismissal. Employment was then offered immediately and accepted. The cost to public funds was approximately £227 in one case and £174 in the other.