§ Major ARCHER-SHEEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the gentleman who has recently been appointed Accountant-General only entered the service in November, 1900, and whether during most of his service he has been employed as private secretary to Sir Robert Chalmers and other head officials; and whether he will explain why this official has gone over the head of the Deputy Accountant-General, who has had thirty-nine years' experience in the Department, and who has been acting as Accountant General for about twelve months; and whether he is aware that the next senior official who has been passed over has had thirty-four years' service; and, if so, will he say why an official who has had no experience in the department of which he has now become chief has been appointed, to the detriment of more experienced officials?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe present Accountant and Comptroller-General of Inland Revenue, who entered that Department on 15th October, 1900, and has had the advantage of being private secretary to successive chairmen of the Board for five years, was selected for his present post solely on grounds of merit, after the claims of existing officers in the Department had received the fullest consideration.
§ Major ARCHER-SHEEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this gentleman is not a qualified accountant, whereas both of the senior officials who have been passed over are qualified accountants?
§ Mr. NEWMANMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that great dissatisfaction exists among the staff at Somerset House on the subject of promotions?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI am not aware that great dissatisfaction exists.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSIs there nobody equally qualified in the Civil Service to whom this appointment could have been offered?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSENo, Sir, not in that particular Department.