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asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made in finding alternative employment for the temporary assistant estate surveyors recently discharged from the Directorate of Lands and Accommodation.
Thirty-eight redundant assistant estate surveyors registered for employment at offices of the Ministry of whom eight were subsequently re-engaged by the Ministry of Works. One has been placed with another Government Department, and with the help of the Technical and Scientific Register, three have found work in private practice. The Ministry will continue to give them all possible help in finding fresh work for those still seeking employment.
Is the Minister aware that this matter ought not to lie where it is, and that the treatment has been rather dilatory, rather unimaginative and reflects no credit on the Government Departments concerned? Will he give it his personal attention and tidy it up?
I can assure the hon. Member that I have looked into this question. It is very difficult to find work suitable for these men other than those we have placed. The work which they have been doing in Government service has no exact counterpart in non-Government employment. Many of them are elderly, and unhappily, that makes some difference—I wish it did not. I have submitted their names to all the Government Departments who may have vacancies, to local authorities, new town corporations and private employers. I shall go on doing my best.