asked the Minister of Pensions the nature of the pensionable post relinquished by the non-service man appointed as Press Officer in his Department; what was the special experience which has been said to fit him for publicity work; whether he had previously been engaged on Press work of any sort what is the name of this official: by what. authority was he given a guarantee that his post would be for five years; why was this preferential treatment extended to a non-service man when ex-service men are only employed on a precarious tenure from month to month; whether, on the expiry of this term, he intends to continue the post: and will he then guarantee that an ex-service man shall be appointed?

I am afraid I can add nothing on this subject to the replies given to previous questions on the 14th June, 1921, and on the 29th March and 28th June last, of which I am sending copies to the hon. and gallant Member, except that the officer in question is a journalist of long experience with exceptional knowledge of pension work. I cannot pledge myself to any particular course of action when his present engagement expires.