§ MR. E. ROBERTSON (Dundee)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he will obtain and lay upon the Table the opinion of the Auditor General as to the necessity of retaining the office of Assistant Auditor General, with a salary of £1,500 and pension; and, whether, if the Government should decide upon filling up the vacancy, it will make the appointment subject to such conditions as will permit Parliament to deal with the office by legislation, without any question of vested interests?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster), in reply, said, he was solely responsible for any action that might have to be taken with regard to the appointment of the Assistant Auditor General; and although he could not undertake to take the course which the hon. Member suggested, whatever steps he might take would be taken with a deep sense of his responsibility, and he would be guided only by what he believed to be the interests of the Public Service.
§ MR. E. ROBERTSONgave Notice that he should call attention to the matter on the Appropriation Bill.