§ MR. KELLY (Camberwell, N)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will explain why no decision has yet been arrived at with reference to a number of Second Division Clerks who have been recommended by the heads of their various Departments for exceptional promotion to the higher grade of that Division under paragraph 2, of Clause 6, of the Order in Council of 21st March, 1890, although the recommendations in the cases of some of such meritorious Second Division Clerks have not been before the Treasury for nearly a whole year; and whether the delay on the part of the Treasury in sanctioning such recommendations is due to the fact that they have all to be considered by the Permanent Secretary of the Treasury; and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that the work of the Permanent Secretary is so exceptionally burdensome, he will take into consideration the question of the advisability of placing the duty of dealing with the recommendations of Second Division Clerks for promotion in the hands of some other official, or at any time associate somebody else with the Permanent Secretary in the matter?
§ MR. GOSCHENIn reply to the first part of the hon. Member's question, I beg to say that any complaints of delay with reference to recommendations made by heads of Departments to the Treasury should come either from those heads themselves or from the Ministers who are responsible for those Departments, and would receive my immediate attention. With regard to the second question, I am myself responsible for the work of the Treasury being properly done and for the distribution of the work amongst the various officers of the Department, and I am not prepared to discuss with the hon. Member the best means of giving quick despatch to its business.