Mr. DUNDAS WHITEasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he was aware that many inquiries were being made with reference to appointments under the National Insurance Bill, in anticipation of its passing into law; and if he would say to whom applications for such appointments should be addressed, how many applications for such appointments had already been received, when and on what principles such appointments would be made, and whether political or other outside influence would weigh in the making of them?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI am glad to have an opportunity of making a statement on this subject. I will read the terms of a notice sent to the Press on 16th May last: "In view of the numerous applications which are being received for employment in connection with the Government scheme of National Insurance, the Treasury desire it to be generally understood that no appointments can be made until the Bill has become law. In the event of its then becoming necessary to make appointments from outside the public service, due public notice of vacancies will be given and of the manner in which application is to be made. In the meantime no application for employment in connection with the scheme can be either considered or recorded." The course laid down in this notice has been, and will be, rigorously followed. No appointments will be made except on the grounds of merit and qualifications, and no weight will be given to political or other outside influence.