§ 42. Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, seeing that he has just appointed as successor to the present Permanent Secretary to his Department a Treasury official with experience only at the Treasury, he can give any reasons for this particular selection in preference to officials of proved competency and intimate experience in the problems of his Department?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe field of selection for the higher posts in the Civil Service is the Service itself as a whole, and there is not, and should not be, any sectional limitation. In connection with the pending retirement of the present Permanent Secretary to the Ministry, the steps usual in such cases have been taken to fill the consequential vacancy, and in making the new appointment, due consideration has been given to the qualifications of all who might be deemed to be qualified to fill that position, whether at present serving in the Department or elsewhere in the Service.