§ 33. Mr. AMMONasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department why the recently created position of assistant accountant in his department was given to a junior official of the Treasury instead of applications for the position being invited through the usual official channels?
§ Mr. HACKINGIt was found, after careful consideration of the claims of all eligible candidates in the Department of Overseas Trade, that the qualifications of the officer referred to were definitely superior for the duties of the post, which, as stated in the question, was newly created.
§ Mr. AMMONWill the hon. Gentleman say how that was discovered if they called for no applicants from the various Departments?
§ Mr. HACKINGAlthough there was no special call for applications to be made, all the possible applicants were considered. The appointment was made by a promotions board set up under the Whitley Council, and they went most thoroughly into the question.
§ Mr. AMMONis the hon. Gentleman not aware that the promotions board of the Whitley Council are concerned only with the particular Department, and that this should have been thrown open to all Departments? Why was that not done?
§ Mr. HACKINGThey were in touch with many other people who were considered as applicants, although applicants were not actually asked to send in their names.