HC Deb 31 March 1892 vol 3 cc362-3
MR. HOWELL

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can inform the House what number of Inspectors have been appointed under the Savings Bank Act of last Session, the names of the Inspectors, by whom they were nominated, and the amount of remuneration in each case; whether the appointments are permanent or for a term of years, and what are the conditions of their appointment; whether any annual Reports are to be presented to Parliament of the work done, the banks inspected, and the results of the investigations made; whether the Inspectors have to pass a Civil Service examination by the Civil Service Commissioners, or are selected from the Society of Chartered Accountants; and whether he will present a Return to this House, giving the name of each Inspector, his profession, his area of inspection, and the names of the parties by whom he was nominated for the post?

* MR. GOSCHEN

With regard to the third paragraph of the hon. Member's question, I may call his attention to Section 3 (Sub-section 7) of the Act under which the Committee is appointed. This clause requires that the Committee should annually Report their proceedings, and that the Report should be laid on the Table of the House. The approval of the Treasury is required for the appointment of officers by the Committee. Proposals for the appointment of Inspectors have been made by the Committee, and are still under the consideration of the Treasury. I am, therefore, unable to give the hon. Member the information for which he asks, but I may state that the scheme of inspection proposed by the Committee is tentative, and the appointments are intended to be of a temporary nature.

MR. HOWELL

Will the right hon. Gentleman lay on the Table a Return giving the names of the general candidates, and by whom they are proposed and seconded?

* MR. GOSCHEN

I think it would be most unusual to give the names of those by whom the candidates are proposed. They are appointed by the Committee under the provisions of the Act, and the Committee would be responsible.

MR. HOWELL

I beg to give notice that on the Estimates I shall bring this question before the House.