33. Mr. NUGENTasked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division), as representing the National Insurance Audit Department, whether, seeing that the inspectors of audit are mainly employed on duties which connote duplication of work, that these inspectors, lacking in intelligence, education, and a practical knowledge of the world, hamper auditors when they interfere with them, and that the effective work of the Department is supervised by auditors who have a practical knowledge of the work and who are responsible for the preparation and signing of the reports, he will consider the question of the reorganisation of the Department with a view to effecting economy and efficiency by the abolition of the grade of inspector?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe hon. Member is misinformed as to the qualifications and duties of the inspectors of audit under the National Insurance Audit Department. The answer to the question is in the negative.
34. Mr. NUGENTasked what was the date on which Mr. Twort was promoted from the position of auditor to that of in spector of audit; whether Mr. Twort occupied the position of auditor for only a very short time; and whether, seeing that previous to his appointment as an auditor in the Department Mr. Twort had no experience of auditing and was not qualified as a professional accountant, he will explain the reasons for his promotion?
§ Mr. BALDWINMr. Twort was appointed inspector of audit under the National Insurance Audit Department on the 1st January, 1914, having served as auditor since the formation of the Department and having in the year 1907 passed the test examination of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Mr. Twort's promotion was made solely in the interest of the public service.
35. Mr. NUGENTasked whether the hon. Member will furnish a statement showing the names of Irish-born assistant auditors of the old grade who, prior to 1st January, 1914, and 1st May, 1915, respectively, were recommended by their immediate superiors for promotion to the new grade of assistant auditor on the intermediate scale, but who were not so promoted as from each of those dates, and the names of the inspectors of audit who vetoed such promotions being made; whether the immediate superiors of these assistant auditors were in a better position than the inspectors of audit to adjudicate on the qualifications of such assistant auditors for promotion; and whether he proposes to take any steps in this matter?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe place of birth of an assistant auditor has never been taken into consideration with regard to promotion, and the inspectors of audit have no veto with regard to promotion, though their recommendations are considered by the chief auditor in submitting names to the Treasury. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
Mr. NUGENTIs the hon. Gentleman aware that those of Irish nationality have been practically disqualified from all nominations?
36. Mr. NUGENTasked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division) whether one of the original appointees to the post of inspector of audit was Irish born; and, if so, whether, seeing that it was intended that these inspectors should be the immediate advisers of the 913 chief auditor, he will explain why an Irish-born inspector had not been appointed either at the formation of the Department or at a subsequent date when opportunity occurred for so doing?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe hon. Member is referred to the reply to his question of the 18th April, 1916.
37. Mr. NUGENTasked whether, seeing that some twenty-five senior assistant auditors of the old grade were promoted to the newgrade of assistant auditor on the intermediate scale as from 1st January, 1914, that Messrs. Atkinson, Williams, and Joynt, senior assistant auditors of the old grade, were considered as not having shown themselves equally qualified to be so promoted as at that date, he will explain why these three latter officials were subsequently promoted to the yet higher position of acting auditor over the heads of their twenty-five colleagues who had a short time previously shown themselves better qualified for advancement; whether promotion in the Department connotes pergonal favourites of the inspectors of audit at such times as vacancies for promotion may arise: whether the bulk of these inspectors of audit are lacking in education, intelligence, sense of equity, and practical knowledge of the work of the Department; and whether, in the interests of efficiency and economy, he will institute an independent inquiry into the present system of promotion in the Department with a view to eradicating it in favour of a more equitable system based on a combination of merit and seniority?
§ Mr. BALDWINMessrs. Atkinson, Williams, and Joynt were selected by a Departmental Committee as the most suitable officers to fill these vacancies. The answer to the second, third and fourth parts of the question is in the negative. I wish to deprecate strongly the ungrounded attacks made by the hon. Member, upon a valuable body of public servants.