§ 46. Mr. DOUGLAS HALLasked the First Lord of the Treasury what were the 1851 reasons which induced His Majesty's present Government to remove the positions of examiner, chief accountant, senior accountant, cashier, and head of the dividend room, in the Department of the Senior Official Receiver for Companies (Winding-up), from the list of situations in the Civil Service, for which public competitive examination by the Civil Service Commissioners was essential; why it was considered necessary to place these positions among those which are filled by the patronage and nomination of a Minister of the Crown or by the head of a Department; and what are the respective salaries of the present occupants of these posts?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)The hon. Member is mistaken in supposing that the posts to which he refers were formerly filled by open competition and that this has now been replaced by patronage. The entire staff of the Senior Official Receiver for Companies (Winding-up) was originally personally appointed and paid by that officer out of a clerical allowance. In 1898, and again at a later date, certain temporary officers on account of their proved capacity and long unestablished service were appointed without examination under clause 7 of the Order in Council of 4th June, 1870. A scheme of examination for future entrants has lately been drawn up by the Civil Service Commissioners and is now in force. The only change which has recently been made is the institution of this scheme of examination by the Civil Service Commissioners — a change by which patronage has been reduced and not increased. There are in the office of the Senior Official Receiver for Companies (Winding-up) three Examiners at £350—15—450, and six at £200—10—350, one Chief Accountant at £250—10—350, one Senior Accountant at £190—10—250, and one Head of Dividend Room at £105—7—10—200.