HC Deb 02 April 1936 vol 310 cc2124-5
49. Mr. T. WILLIAMS

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied that the qualifications and experience of the junior assistant secretary of the Treasury, who has been appointed as permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, were such as to justify his promotion over the heads of the second secretary, the principal assistant secretaries, and the assistant secretaries in the Treasury, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and other Departments of State?

The PRIME MINISTER

As I have already explained, I arm satisfied that the right selection has beer, made for the post of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Mr. WILLIAMS

Are we to understand from the reply that this young man must either be a super-man or that all the other officials in the Treasury and the Ministry of Agriculture must be very mediocre?

The PRIME MINISTER

Oh, no.

Captain GUNSTON

Is it not a fact that civil servants holding the post about to be vacated have always been promoted to responsible jobs, and was not the present financial adviser to the Government of India also junior assistant-secretary of the Treasury before he was accepted chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue?