§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War what are the reasons for delaying the appointment of an incumbent to the vacant Assistant Accountant Generalship of the Army, and to the three vacant principal clerkships at the War Office; and whether the Secretary of State will favourably consider the claims of retired officers of the Army Pay Department to be appointed to vacancies on the directing staff at the War Office, if they are recommended as meritorious by the Commander-in-Chief and certified as duly qualified for civil employment?
MR. POWELL WILLIAMSIt is intended to fill up some of the vacancies referred to. They were not tilled up as they occurred, because an inquiry into the duties of the civil staff of" the War Office was in progress. The inquiry is not yet concluded, but the Secretary of State is satisfied, having regard to other vacancies which are in prospect, that there are no sufficient reasons for entirely arresting the flow of promotion. The officers mentioned in the second paragraph of the Question would not suitably fill the vacant posts.