§ VISCOUNT ENFIELDsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the claims of the Temporary or Supernumerary Clerks in the Civil Service will be taken into favourable consideration for permanent employment, as vacancies may occur in their respective departments, after the 31st day of August next, as an Order in Council provides that after that date all appointments to the Civil Service shall be made after open competition?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, the Question of the noble Lord refers to a class of clerks called temporary clerks, who are employed in the public Offices but have no sort of claim to be placed on the establishment; and the noble Lord asks whether, in the change which is about to be made in regard to competition, anything will be done for these temporary clerks—that is to say, whether the principle of competition will be set aside, in order to give those clerks who have now no claim to be put on the establishment a claim to supersede successful competitors. My answer must be in the negative.