HC Deb 14 November 1917 vol 99 cc359-60
10. Mr. LYNCH

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of recent revelations which indicate the state of competence of the Diplomatic Service abroad, he will forthwith inaugurate the system under which an income of £400 a year will not be considered a higher claim to employment than talent, energy, or aptitude for public service?

Mr. BALFOUR

While I cannot accept the lion. Member's description of the present system, I hope that it may be possible to adopt the proposals of the recent Royal Commission, though I fear this cannot be done until the end of the War, because the candidates whom we hope to enlist are at present otherwise employed.

Mr. LYNCH

Then, in fact, the right hon. Gentleman does not hold that talent begins with the fatidic sum of £400 a year?

Mr. BALFOUR

I refuse to accept that part of the question in which the hon. Gentleman reflects upon the Diplomatic Service, which has done extremely good work under exceedingly difficult circumstances.

Mr. LYNCH

In Athens?

Sir J. JARDINE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the objection taken by the witnesses, among others, to this qualification of £400 a year excludes nearly all the people of Scotland?

Mr. BALFOUR

I do not take that view of the average income in Scotland any more than in the case of England or Ireland.

Mr. R. HARCOURT

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that the Foreign Office would be justified in paying junior clerks and attaches a commencing salary of £400 a year?

Mr. BALFOUR

I have explained to the House that there has been a Committee sitting, and that they have made recommendations. We have not yet been able to carry out the recommendations, but hope to as soon as the War permits us. I do not know that I can answer in detail as to the evidence given before the Committee, or that the House would wish me to do so.

Mr. LYNCH

Is it a fact that the sum of £400 was fixed so as to prevent the possibility of corruption, and is not corruption more likely to follow by the possession of £20,000?

Mr. BALFOUR

I am afraid it is quite beyond my powers to judge the comparative temptation to corruption between the possession of a capital sum and an income.

Back to
Forward to