§ 29. Mr. LEONARDasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officers who qualified at entrance by examination for the lower branches of the British Civil Service are employed by the Department of Agriculture in Scotland; how many qualified at entrance by examination for the higher administrative or first division positions in the British Civil Service are employed by the said Department; and, particularly, how many of each division are employed in connection with land settlement in Scotland?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe staff of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland includes two officers who entered the Civil Service by the examination for Class I clerkships (now administrative class) and 176 who entered by other examinations. The corresponding numbers for the land settlement division are none and 34. These numbers relate to the examinations for entrance to classes common to the Civil Service, excluding typing grades.
§ Mr. LEONARDWill the right hon. Gentleman consider approaching the Treasury as to the position with regard to the employment of officers in these grades, with a view to providing that some of the higher officials shall be placed in Scotland, having regard to the peculiar 880 problems arising there, especially in connection with land legislation?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThat matter is presently under consideration.