§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Cavan, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury—(1) whether any proposals have been made by or received from the Lords of the Committee of Council on Education for the employment of any of the temporary assistants employed under them to the permanent staff; (2) whether he is aware that these temporary clerks are, in a number of instances, closely related to senior officials in the Department; (3) whether, in the event of any proposals being received for the promotion of any of the temporary clerks, he will first consider the claims of the larger number of clerks on the permanent establishment; and (4) whether any relationship exists between the temporary clerk so proposed and any senior official in the Education Department?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Sir JOHN GORST,) Cambridge UniversityTemporary clerks are sometimes promoted, on the ground of merit, to the permanent staff. The incident suggested in paragraphs (2) and (4) is unknown to the Committee of Council; if the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars, I will inquire. No temporary clerk has ever been promoted over the heads of clerks on the permanent establishment.