HC Deb 29 July 1908 vol 193 cc1460-2
MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that acting examiners in. the Exchequer and Audit Department receive £122 10s. per annum during their eighth year of service, and that on-completing their eighth year they are promoted and given a superior certificate, but with a reduced salary of £115 per annum, he will quote any general rule or authority under which promoted officials suffer loss on promotion and for a considerable number of years thereafter.

(Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) The-officers referred to are Second Division clerks, who on completing eight years service are eligible for promotion to the class of examiners in the Exchequer and Audit Department. As Second Division clerks they have the right, under Clauses. 5 and 6 of the Order in Council of 21st December, 1907, to elect to be placed, upon the new scale of salaries prescribed, by that Order. But it has been decided, in this case, as well as in similar cases in other offices, that there is no reason for varying in their favour the conditions of promotion to the class of examiners-which were contemplated on the recent reorganisation of the Department. Any such clerk, therefore, who, having elected, under the above-mentioned Order in Council to be placed upon the new scale becomes qualified and is recommended for promotion, is required to enter the scale of the examiner class at the point it which he would have arrived had he continued to serve as a Second Division clerk on the old scale up to the date of promotion.

MR. FIELD

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether be will state how many local auditors and assistant auditors abroad have now signified their intention of returning to the headquarters of the

Number. Age. Service in Colonial Audit Department.
At Home. A broad.
1 30 8 months 6 years 5 months
2 25 11½ months 2 years 10 months
3 27 2 years 2 months 2 years 10 months
4 27 10½ months 2 years 5 months
5 29 2 years 4 months 3 years 3 months
6 29 1 year 2 months 4 years 3 months
7 29 1 year 3 months 8 years
8 27 10 months 2 years 3 mouths
9 29 1 year 7 months 4 years 10 months
10 28 1 year 2 months 4 years 10 months
11 33 — 3 years
* Served previously from 1892 under various Colonial Governments.
MR. FIELD

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that return-in Colonial auditors and assistant auditors will have their names interspersed with those of the former members of the main establishment of the Exchequer and Audit Department, but with considerably higher salaries, and that service abroad is held out as a special qualification for promotion, he will explain how the interests of the former members of the main establishment of the Exchequer and Audit Department are safeguarded m this procedure.

(Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) This is a matter which, under Section 9 of the

Exchequer and Audit Department, and the age, length of service at home, and length of service abroad of each.

(Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) Eleven auditors and assistant auditors have accepted the new scheme of amalgamation The information as to age and service is as follows—

Exchequer and Audit Departments Act, is within the discretion of the Comptroller and Auditor-General.