HC Deb 27 July 1910 vol 19 cc2100-1
Mr. DOUGLAS HALL

asked what is the total number of persons, not at the time of appointment in permanent Government employment, who have been appointed since January, 1906, to positions in his Department with salaries exceeding £100 a year, and who did not previously to their appointment pass an examination by the Civil Service Commissioners; and what is the total amount of their salaries?

Mr. BUXTON

Two hundred and ninety-four persons have received appointments, without examination, under the Board of Trade, since January, 1906, with salaries exceeding £100 a year. The total annual salaries on appointment was £71,231. Of these 243 occupy unestablished posts, at an initial cost of £52,797. The remaining fifty-one are permanent officials, appointed either under Treasury Warrant, provided for in Section 4 of the Superannuation Act, 1859, or under Clause 7 of the Order in Council of 4th January, 1870 (now Clause 7 of the Order in Council of 10th January, 1910), under which, when the qualifications are wholly or in part professional or otherwise peculiar, and not ordinarily to be acquired in the Civil Service, examination may be dispensed with.

Mr. GEORGE FABER

Were the gentlemen who got appointments nominated by the President of the Board of Trade?

Mr. BUXTON

They were appointed by the President of the Board of Trade.

Mr. G. FABER

Without any examination or other means of sifting out?

Mr. BUXTON

They were most carefully sifted out in this sense: there were a large number of applications, and a Committee—a strong one, as I believe hon. Members will agree—went most carefully into the matter, and recommended applications to the President of the Board of Trade for the time being, who no doubt appointed them while exercising his own discretion with regard to the recommendations of the Committee.

Sir HENRY CRAIK

Is there not an Order in Council which provides that in certain cases appointments may be made without examination, but have not these appointments been made without any Order in Council?

Mr. BUXTON

In my answer I quoted the various sections of various Acts and various Orders in Council. I pointed out there was a dispensing power.

Sir HENRY CRAIK

But in addition to this dispensing power given by Orders in Council, has not the right hon. Gentleman added largely to the number of appointments?

Mr. BUXTON

I would like notice of that. The appointments have been made under the Sections referred to in the answer.

Sir HENRY CRAIK

That would apply to only 41. The rest have been appointed outside the Order.

Mr. BUXTON

I would rather have notice of the question.