§ 60. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Prime Minister if the vacancy in the position of Deputy-Master of the Mint has been filled, and, if so, by whom; if not, will he say whether it is intended to fill the post from among the staff already serving in the Royal Mint; and, if not, on what grounds it is intended to pass over all the staff in favour of an outsider?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe vacancy in the office of Deputy-Master of the Mint has been filled by the appointment of Sir Thomas Elliott, K.C.B., whose distinguished record as a Civil servant speaks for itself.
§ Mr. SNOWDENWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question—on what grounds it is intended to pass over all the staff and take in an outsider?
§ The PRIME MINISTEROn the whole, I thought that Sir Thomas Elliott was the best qualified for the post.
§ Mr. SNOWDENIs it not the fact that for twenty years Sir Thomas Elliott has been at the Board of Agriculture? Does the Prime Minister think that a gentleman who for twenty years has been considering such questions as swine fever and gooseberry mildew is better qualified for a highly technical post of this description than the officials in the Department?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThis post has frequently been filled by the appointment of a politician, and I thought it a very good opportunity to appoint a distinguished Civil servant.
§ Sir JOHN LONSDALEWith regard to the post which Sir Thomas Elliott has vacated, will the right hon. Gentleman, in nominating his successor, see that some one with experience of the office is appointed?
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLSir Thomas Elliott is a distinguished Civil servant. 1679 Was not the predecessor of Sir Thomas Elliott appointed straight from the House of Commons after he had been dismissed from the Secretaryship of the Admiralty?
§ Mr. R. HARCOURTIs not transfer within the ranks of the Civil Service a very usual practice?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes. This is the first time for a great many years that a Civil servant has been appointed to this post. As the hon. Baronet opposite rather complains of my appointing a Civil servant, I may point out how very difficult it is for a Minister to keep the balance between inside and outside appointments.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLAm right——
§ Mr. SPEAKERI must remind hon. Members that there are 146 questions on the Paper.