HC Deb 22 November 1916 vol 87 cc1427-30
91. Mr. DEVLIN

asked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, whether, in connection with the proposed appointment of temporary female clerks in the offices of the Irish Insurance Commissioners, he will state the names of the members of the Committee which is to personally interview and select the applicants and the mental and physical standards by which the applicants are to be judged; whether the Selection Committee is to be appointed by the Irish Insurance Commissioners, and whether appointment to the Selection Committee will be limited to officials or employés of the Commissioners or otherwise; whether applicants are to be judged by general fitness, apart from ability to pass an examination in school subjects or otherwise; whether any age limit will be fixed; whether any preference will be given to the applicants on the ground of social or financial standing; whether all applicants will have equal consideration apart from this; what is to be the wages or salary of the successful applicants; whether, in fixing this, regard will be had to the present cost of living; whether any calculation has been actually made as to the difference in cost between the proposed method of interviewing, judging, and examining the applicants and examination by a representative of the Civil Service Commission, and, if so, what is the difference; why it is that, although no advertisement with regard to these appointments was published in the newspapers, so many applications for them have been received; whether he is aware that the proposed method of appointment is causing dissatisfaction in Ireland; whether there is any reason, apart from the expense, why applications for these positions should not be invited by advertisement in the newspapers, so as to give everyone a fair chance in regard to them; and whether, under all the circumstances, he will consider the advisability of advertising the vacancies and of filling them up by competitive examination by the Civil Service Commission?

Mr. C. ROBERTS (Comptroller of the Household)

The examination to which the hon. Member refers was held at the end of last week. I have inquired into the methods of selection and examination and I am satisfied that they were impartial and, having regard to the nature of the employment, adequate. I cannot within the limits of a Parliamentary answer reply to each of the thirteen parts of the hon. Member's question.

Mr. DEVLIN

May I ask the hon. Gentleman why those vacancies were not advertised?

Mr. ROBERTS

There were already in the office of the Commission applications for general employment to the amount of six or seven times the need.

Mr. HAZLETON

Who conducted the examination?

Mr. ROBERTS

If the hon. Member asks me and presses me, I would say that the answer to parts 2, 6, 8 is Yes; to parts 4, 5, 9, 11, and 13, No; and the answer to parts 1, 7, 10, and 12 would take rather longer.

Mr. HAZLETON

Cannot the hon. Gentleman read out the whole reply to the question, instead of a reply which is quite unintelligible?

Mr. ROBERTS

I think it would be an abuse of the forms of the House.

Mr. DEVLIN

Might I ask the hon. Gentleman whether, being only an Under-Secretary, he is entitled to give such an insulting answer to the Members of this House, and to adopt a most unprecedented course? I shall certainly take the first opportunity to call the attention of the House to the matter.

Mr. ROBERTS

I do not see anything that was discourteous in the answer that I gave.

Mr. HAZLETON

There was.

Mr. ROBERTS

Neither intentionally nor actually.

Mr. DEVLIN

Is it not the fact that the hon. Gentleman has in his hands a series of replies to a series of points which I have raised?

Mr. HAZLETON

Why does he not read them out?

Mr. DEVLIN

He has refused to read them out to the House, although he is the least burdened Minister on that Bench.

Mr. ROBERTS

I can give the answer "yes," "no," "no," "yes."

Mr. DEVLIN

Will the hon. Gentleman give the names of the persons who held the examination?

Mr. ROBERTS

I cannot give the names, but the secretary, the accountant, the lady superintendent of the women's staff, and one of the first-class clerks conducted this examination.

Mr. NUGENT

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the statement he has made is inaccurate, and, further, is he aware that general dissatisfaction exists in the city that private information should be conveyed to friends when vacancies occur?

Mr. ROBERTS

My statement is absolutely accurate, and there is nothing in the insinuation of the hon. Member.

Mr. DEVLIN

May I ask whether this-examination has not been hurried since I called attention to the facts contained in this question?

Mr. ROBERTS

No.

Mr. DEVLIN

Yes, it has.

Mr. SPEAKER

We have had already seven or eight supplementary questions.

Mr. HAZLETON

On a point of Order. May I ask is it in order for a Minister from the Treasury Bench to suggest that for a Member to ask him to read a reply which he has in his hand is an abuse of the forms of the House?

Mr. SPEAKER

It is not for any Minister to pronounce definite judgment on that point. I think that probably rests with me.