§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, as the line of demarcation between second and third-class clerkships in the Land Commission has been removed, and as the nominal promotion from third class does not confer any extra benefits or privileges on clerks so promoted, whether he can state what is gained by preserving the distinction in name between the two classes; and whether, seeing that these classes are amalgamated, both will be described as second-class clerks.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The manner in which the line of demarcation between second and third-class clerks has been modified in the interests of the latter class is fully stated in my Answer to the hon. Member's Question on 1st May last.†The Land Commission do not consider it desirable to adopt the suggestion contained in the latter part of the present Question.
§ MR. FIELDTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that there are third-class clerks in the Land Commission at present in receipt of a larger salary than the initial salary of a second-class clerk in that office, while rising to the same maximum salary by the same annual increment, and that owing to the slow rate of promotion in this Department no third-class clerk can hope to be promoted before he has reached by annual increment a salary, at least, as large as the initial salary of a second-class clerk, whether he can state the
† See(4) Debates, clxxiii, 851–21152 advantages, if any, gained by promotion from a third-class to a second-class clerkship in that office.(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) There are a few third-class clerks in the offices of the Land Commission who receive special allowances for acting as private secretaries to the Commissioners, or for other special duty, and whose total remuneration is, therefore, in some instances higher than the initial salaries of second-class clerks. Otherwise the statement in the first part of the Question is misleading as to the relative positions as regards salary and increment which are occupied by third and second-class clerks. The suggestion that no third-class clerk can hope to be promoted before he has reached by annual increment a salary at least as large as the initial salary of a second-class clerk is based on an incorrect assumption as to the facts.
§ MR. FIELDTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will explain why Messrs. Jenkins, Monsell, and Eckersley have been promoted to their respective new positions in the Local Government Board over officials having longer services and possessing equal merit; and who is responsible for those appointments.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) Mr. Monsell's promotion took place six years ago. Messrs. Jenkins and Eckersley have recently been promoted in their own Department, but not over officials of longer service possessing equal qualifications for the posts. The promotions were made by the permanent head of the Local Government Board in accordance with the Treasury regulations.