§ MR. ASCROFT (Oldham)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, in view of the fact that he stated at Lincoln on 7th January last that the staff of the Local Government Board, which then numbered 467 officers, was to be immediately increased to 572, whether these extra 105 officers have been appointed; and, if not, how many of them, and whether those appointed have been taken from other branches of the Civil Service; and whether any opportunity has been offered to experienced municipal and poor law officials to qualify for any of the extra 105 vacant posts; if not, whether there is any objection to such a course being adopted?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARDThe arrangements referred to have already been made, with the exception of two appointments of professional officers. The additions to the clerical staff have consisted of persons assigned to the Department by the Civil Service Commissioners, in accordance with the regulations which govern the Civil Service, and they have been almost exclusively second division clerks or assistant clerks. Additions have also been made to the staff of clerks to auditors, who are appointed by the auditors themselves. There have been other appointments, some of which were temporary, of professional officers, 1172 such as engineering inspectors and auditors, and in connection with the appointments every effort has been made to secure the services of persons who have had the experience which qualified them for the position.
§ MR. ASCROFTI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in order to overtake the arrears of work in his Department, 12 Second Division clerks have been appointed; and whether, in view of the fact that Sir Hugh Owen has intimated that it will take these clerks upwards of 12 months to clear off the arrears, and in view of the great importance of the matter to municipal and poor law authorities, he will undertake to provide additional and more competent officers, so as to lessen the period of delay?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARDI do not think that the question quite accurately represents the statement in the Report of the Committee. By means of the additional staff which has been assigned to the Board, in some of the Departments where the arrears had occurred the arrears have already been cleared off, and in the others great progress has been made, notwithstanding the continued increase in the work of the office.