§ MR. ONSLOWasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is true that Mr. Godley has been appointed to the vacant post of permanent Under Secretary of State for India; and, if he can state what official experience this officer has had in Indian affairs?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSAs this Question relates to the Indian Department of the Government, my right hon. Friend the Primo Minister has asked me to answer it. In consequence of the contemplated resignation of Sir Louis Mallet, whose health, after 42 years' continuous service, no longer allows him to devote himself to the very onerous duties of the Office which he so ably fills, it will become necessary to nominate his successor; and it is the intention of the Secretary of State for India to nominate Mr. Godley. In appointments of this kind the absence of special Indian experience has not hitherto been considered a disqualification.
§ MR. O'DONNELLMight I ask is this another case of promoting a Premier's Private Secretary?
§ Subsequently,
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONgave Notice that on Monday he would ask, in consequence of the intimation given to the House that Mr. Godley had been appointed to succeed Sir Louis Mallet at the Indian Office, How many years Mr. Godley had been a member of the English Civil Service; and, whether, as Permanent Under Secretary of State for India, he would not have under him upwards of 600 clerks, many amongst them men of great capacity and ability, who had served the State faithfully for a period of 30 or 40 years?
§ COLONEL NOLANbegged to give Notice that, when the noble Lord asked that Question, he should also ask, What was the age of Mr. Godley and what was the age of the noble Lord; and whether the noble Lord had not precisely the same number of clerks under him in that Department four or five years ago?