§ MR. PULESTONasked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he will now facilitate the granting of a Committee to inquire into the working of the Playfair scheme?
§ MR. COURTNEYTwo months ago, Sir, I told the hon. Member that I thought it would be altogether premature to institute an inquiry into the working of the Playfair scheme, and he 784 can scarcely expect that I should now think it expedient, after so short an interval, and when we are looking to the end of the Session. The scheme is even now not in full operation, and it would be far too soon to arouse expectations and excite agitation by an inquiry into it. All who are best competent to judge would, I think, deprecate frequent and hasty change in the organization of the Civil Service, and would rather recommend that the new system should be left at rest until its normal action can be ascertained.