HC Deb 10 May 1900 vol 82 cc1240-2
SIR J. FERGUSSON (Manchester, N.E.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the Report of the Inspector General of Recruiting for 1900, Paragraph 99, page 20, to the effect that the majority of Government Departments do not fill their vacancies as messengers from the list of candidates kept at the War Office, and in view of the recommendations of the Select Committee of this House upon retired soldiers' and sailors' employment, 1894–5, he will endeavour to procure that such appointments shall be filled from the official register of selected candidates, both in the interests of the Departments concerned and of the retired soldiers seeking employment.

In putting the question the right hon. Gentleman said he wished to have inserted after the words "official register of selected candidates," in the last line but one, the words "or other military authority."

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)

I understand from the interpolation of my right hon. friend that he does not now object to information being obtained from these societies in addition to the official list kept at the War Office. If he will put his amended question on the Paper I will see if there is any further answer to be given.

SIR J. FERGUSSON

I do not think the First Lord understood my question. My intention was that these offices should, as far as possible, be filled by soldiers and not by outsiders.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I did not quite gather that that was the object, but the policy pursued, and the number of soldiers actually appointed will become apparent when the Return asked for in the question is in the hands of hon. Members.

SIR J. FERGUSSON

On behalf of the hon. and gallant Member for Cheltenham, I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he has any objection to a Return being issued showing in detail the number of discharged soldiers employed by each Government office respectively; and if he can state why this information, which was given in the Report of the Inspector General of Recruiting last year, has been withheld this year.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have no objection to granting the Return which is asked for in this question, and it will contain all the information the hon. and gallant Member wishes for in detail. As to the second paragraph, the matter is entirely one within the discretion of the Inspector General of Recruiting.