HC Deb 17 April 1934 vol 288 cc879-80
29. Mr. LEONARD

asked 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. COLLINS

The 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. LEONARD

Will 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 problems arising there, especially in connection with land legislation?

Sir G. COLLINS

That matter is presently under consideration.