§ MR. THORNTON (Clapham)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the replacement of second, division clerks in the Estate Duty Office whom it is desired to promote to the first division, but who may be transferred to other departments consequent on their inability to accept such promotion accompanied by reduction of salary, by inexperienced new entrants will result in a monetary loss to the State; and, if this be the case, on what grounds the Government is willing to incur such increased expenditure combined with loss of efficiency.
§ MR. HOBHOUSENo, Sir. The cost to the Exchequer, in the circumstances contemplated in the Question, would be the same as if the new appointments in the Estate Duty Office were all filled in the ordinary course by appointments from outside at the minimum of the scale, without any offer of special promotion to the existing clerks of the second division. I have no reason to doubt that efficient candidates will be secured under the new scheme of examination.