§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEsaid, he would now beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether any steps have been taken, or are in contemplation, for introducing into the Public Offices a better system of division of labour?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, that all he could then state upon the subject was this. The hon. Baronet had given them his valuable assistance, along with other Gentlemen, in the investigation of the subject, which was one of very great difficulty; but the Government did not yet feel themselves in a condition to move in it before they had brought it under the notice of the principal permanent officers of the civil service. He could not say they had yet arrived at any result which would justify him in holding out any immediate prospect of making any progress in the matter. But the attention of many of the most eminent and experienced of the civil servants was being directed to the subject, and the Government were very desirous of arriving as soon as possible at such a decision as the circumstances of the case might require.