HC Deb 21 February 1895 vol 30 cc1270-1
MR. G. C. T. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he will lay upon the Table the terms of the new appointment to the Education Department which has been given to Mr. Sadler, together with any correspondence concerning the need of such appointment, and state whether the creation of this new appointment was recommended by the permanent heads of the Education Department, or by any other Educational Authorities; and, if so, whether he will lay these Papers upon the Table?

MR. A. H. ACLAND

I have told the hon. Gentleman what the purposes are for which the appointment which he mentions has been made. It is held on the same conditions as other similar posts in the Civil Service. The laying on the Table of the correspondence with the Treasury on the subject is, I think, unnecessary. I think it is contrary to the interest of the public service that I should say anything about the opinion of my advisers at the Department on this matter or any other matter of this sort.

MR. BARTLEY

Are we to understand that this appointment has been made on the initiative of the right hon. Gentleman, and that a personal friend has been put over the heads of officials? I am only asking whether it is a fact that this gentleman has been placed over the heads of men who have been many years in the public service, and without even possessing the qualifications which are required of other persons in the public service.

MR. ACLAND

did not reply.

MR. BARTLEY

I shall put a further question on the Paper with regard to this matter.