HC Deb 23 June 1910 vol 18 cc476-7
Mr. MacVEAGH

asked whether the attention of the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture has been called to the number of temporary appointments made in his Department; whether these have been made without competitive examinations; whether many of them have become permanent and have been followed by promotion, to the prejudice of officials who passed the necessary examinations; and whether the duration of temporary appointments will henceforth be specified and adhered to?

Mr. BIRRELL

The attention of the Vice-President has been called to this matter. Fifteen temporary clerks appointed without competitive examination have been promoted to permanent posts since the establishment of the Department. Of these, twelve were transferred from other offices to the Department at its formation and three were specially appointed during the early stages of its work. In the opinion of the Department none of the promotions referred to were to the prejudice of officials who had passed competitive examinations. The Vice-President does not consider that it would be practicable or equitable to act on the suggestion made in the last part of the question, but he has already stated that the necessity for such temporary appointments has, in his opinion, practically ceased and that no further appointments of the kind will be made save in most exceptional circumstances.

Mr. MacVEAGH

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that some distinction ought to be introduced in Government employment in Ireland between the word "temporary" and the word "permanent"?

Mr. BIRRELL

There is a distinction between the two.

Mr. MacVEAGH

Not in practice; only in theory.