§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Secretary to the Treasury if, before the appointment of Sir Ernest Soares to the post of Assistant Comptroller of the National Debt Office was made, the advice of the Comp-trolled was sought; and whether this official informed the Treasury that there was no person in the office qualified for the position; and whether he recommended that a man with legal qualifications should be brought into the office?
§ Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDasked the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Comptroller of the National Debt Office made any recommendations or suggestions to him to the effect that any member of the Civil Service staff was qualified to be appointed or should be appointed to the post of Assistant Comptroller?
§ Mr. NORMAN CRAIGasked whether the Comptroller-General of the National Debt Office, pending the vacancy in the post of Assistant Comptroller now filled by the appointment of Sir Ernest Soares, recommended some member of the staff of the National Debt Office as qualified to fill that vacancy?
§ Mr. BOOTHBefore the right hon. Gentleman replies, is it not the case that under both Governments the higher positions in Government Departments have been strengthened by the introduction of 586 officials from outside; and is it not the case that the Unionist Government appointed Sir Schoenberg McDonnell, Mr. Ellison-Macartney, and a Unionist Whip, Mr. Henry Anstruther, to appointments of similar importance to that to which Sir Ernest Soares has recently been gazetted?
Mr. PEELIs it not a fact that the post to which Mr. Anstruther was promoted was not in the Civil Service at all?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)I have no information on those matters. With reference to the questions on the Paper, it is contrary to the practice of the public service that confidential communications between the heads of Departments and Ministers should be disclosed.
§ Mr. FELLasked if the appointment of Sir Ernest Soares was made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 11th April at a meeting of the. Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, at which he alone was present, whilst the Act under which the appointment was made provided that not less than three Commissioners must be present to form a quorum for the appointment of any officers?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe minute appointing Sir E. Soares was signed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 11th April. The Acts regulating the duties of the Commissioners did not necessitate an actual meeting of the Commissioners provided that the appointment was signed by three of them.
§ Mr. FELLHas the provision of the Acts requiring three to form a quorum been carried out in this case?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not know if the hon. Member listened to my answer. The answer was that the Acts regulating the duties of the Commissioners did not necessitate an actual meeting of the Commissioners.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSWas the appointment signed by three Commissioners?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat does not arise, but I assume it was. In fact, I believe it was.
Mr. STEE L-MAITLANDasked what was the position of greater emolument that Sir Ernest Soares had vacated in order to take up the duties of Assistant Comptroller of the National Debt Office; and for how long he had held that position of greater emolument?
§ The PRIME MINISTERSir Ernest Soares held the position of a Junior Lord of the Treasury, with salary, from January 16th until April 10th.
§ Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDasked whether there was any medical examination, which should be passed by Sir Ernest Soares, before appointment to a Civil Service post; and whether, in fact, he passed any such examination?
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked if Sir Ernest Soares was medically examined on his appointment to a Civil Service post carrying with it a claim to superannuation; and, if so, was the certificate satisfactory to the Treasury?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am informed that Sir Ernest Soares will undergo the usual examination by a doctor selected by the Civil Service Commissioners.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSIf the result of the medical inspection is not satisfactory, may we assume that the appointment will be cancelled?
§ Mr. KEBTY-FLETCHERAs the present Government appointed the Viceroy of India from the Civil Service, do they still think there is no person in the office qualified for this appointment?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThis is a question of medical examination.
§ Mr. NORMAN CRAIGasked whether Sir Ernest Soares retired from practice as a solicitor in order to take up his appointment as Assistant Comptroller of the National Debt Office; whether he had already retired some considerable time from practice as a solicitor before such appointment; whether the position of Sir Ernest Soares as a Junior Civil Lord of the Treasury was paid or unpaid; and what income, and what income in excess of the emoluments of his office as Assistant Comptroller, Sir Ernest Soares gave up by accepting that office?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs already stated, his position was a paid one, and the last paragraph I have already answered.
§ Mr. NORMAN CRAIGOn a point of Order, I am asking question No. 53.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have answered it.
§ Mr. NORMAN CRAIGThe first part of the question has not been answered at 588 all as to whether Sir Ernest Soares retired from practice as a solicitor in order to take up his appointment., or whether he had retired some time before?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI beg my hon. Friend's pardon; I thought I had answered the first part of the question. Sir Ernest Soares had retired some time before.
§ Mr. NORMAN CRAIGWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question. What income in excess of the emoluments of his office as Assistant-Comptroller Sir Ernest Soares gave up by accepting office?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe salary of Sir Ernest Soares as a Junior Lord of the Treasury was £1,000 per annum; as Assistant-Comptroller it is £800, rising to £1,000.
§ Mr. W. PEELIs it not a fact that Sir Ernest Soares practised as a solicitor eleven years ago?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI really do not know.
§ Mr. W. PEELAnd has it not been stated by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, in reply to a question—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member will see that in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. NORMAN CRAIGasked whether the importance of the possession of a legal training as a qualification for the post has, in any case before the appointment of Sir Ernest Soares, led to the appointment of a solicitor or barrister to the office of Assistant-Comptroller of the National Debt Office; and, if so, in what instance or instances?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer is in the negative.
§ Mr. NORMAN CRAIGasked the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that a Treasury Minute was issued in 1899 making actuarial knowledge a condition precedent to promotion amongst the permanent staff of the National Debt Office; and whether that minute continued in force at the time of the appointment of Sir Ernest Soares as Assistant-Comptroller?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe hon. Member is misinformed. This Minute applies to promotions of the staff of the 589 office to the posts of principal and assistant-principal clerks, but not to the heads of the Department.
§ Mr. NORMAN CRAIGasked the First Lord of the Treasury if he would state when the Comptroller and Auditor-General is due to retire; whether any extension of his appointment was contemplated; if not, whether in the event of the Assistant-Comptroller and Auditor being promoted to fill the vacancy so created there was anyone in the Exchequer and Audit Department qualified for the office of Assistant-Comptroller and Auditor; and whether he would see that any vacancy or vacancies occasioned by such retirement or promotion shall be filled by a member or members of the Civil Service?
§ The PRIME MINISTERSir John Kempe has intimated to me his intention to retire shortly from his position as Comptroller and Auditor-General. I am not yet in a position to state what advice I shall tender to the King for filling the approaching vacancy.
§ Mr. NORMAN CRAIGasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, having regard to the importance of the possession of legal as well as actuarial knowledge in the permanent staff of the National Debt Office, he will consider the advisability of issuing a fresh Minute setting forth more clearly the qualifications included amongst the conditions for promotion in that office?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe reply is in the negative.
§ Mr. NEWMANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the management of Irish land purchase funds is a part of the duties of the Assistant Comptroller, National Debt Office; and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that the gentleman recently appointed to that office is without previous experience of Irish land purchase finance, he will transfer the management of such funds to a Civil Servant acquainted with the Land Purchase Acts, 1891, 1903, and 1909?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Irish Land Purchase Fund is placed under the control of the National Debt Commissioners by Section 27 of the Irish Land Act, 1903. The Assistant-Comptroller is fully competent to fulfil his duties in connection with the fund.