Written Answers
Employment Exchanges (Staff Organisations)
asked the Minister of Labour whether his Department is advising its staff employés to become members of any Civil Service organisation and, if so, which; and whether he will direct the removal from the Employment Exchange notice boards of notices to this effect which purport to represent the views of the Department?
If, as I presume, the first part of this question refers to cases in which more than one organisation admit the same grade of staff to membership, the answer is in the negative. The reference in the second part of the question is presumably to a notice, which was issued by two associations on their own responsibility: objection to the exhibition of this notice at Exchanges has been taken by certain other associations, and the Department has these objections under consideration.
Trade Agreements (Imitation Kraft Paper)
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the alteration in the rates of duty contained in the Swedish and Norwegian Agreements, retention of imitation kraft paper upon the basis of the old duty of 25 per cent. is to apply to all classes of imitation kraft paper in whatever form they are imported?
The determination of the liability of particular consignments of goods to import duties is a matter for consideration by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise as and when the goods are imported, but I am informed that when the alterations in the rates of duty provided for in the Agreements with Sweden and Norway are made, all classes of paper which are primarily imitation kraft and are known to the paper trade as imitation kraft will remain liable to duty at the rate of 25 per cent.
Royal Navy
Probationary Surgery Assistants
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what vacancies there are for surgery attendants in the surgeries of Portsmouth dockyard and Priddy's Hard; and whether they will be filled by suitable pensioned naval sick berth ratings in accordance with the scheme for employing ex-service men?
Two vacancies for probationary surgery assistants are about to be filled, one at Portsmouth Dockyard and the other at Priddy's Hard. The qualifications required are prescribed in Admiralty Regulations. The posts are open to pensioner naval sick berth ratings and dockyard employés, and the selection will be governed by the all-round suitability of the candidates.
Cooks
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the officers' cooks and naval cooks are to be, or have been, amalgamated into one branch; whether one general advancement roster for each grade is to be prepared according to seniority, date of passing, etc.; and whether warrant rank is open to the higher ratings of the newly-created naval cooks branch?
No amalgamation of the new naval cooks with the old officers' cooks has taken place. Existing officers' cooks will complete their service as such under previous regulations until the rating dies out. Newly entered naval cooks will be trained to undertake the duties of cooks in both officers' and ratings' galleys. The answer to the first part of the question is, therefore, in the negative, and the second part, therefore, does not arise. The answer to the third part of the question is in the affirmative.