§ 62. Mr. Liddallasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, as part of the post-war reconstruction policy, he will take steps to ascertain whether the strain of examinations and preparations on persons between their 14th and 22nd years, desirous of entering the higher grades of the Civil Service, tends in any appreciable degree to engender cerebral apathy and loss of initiative or willingness to accept responsibility?
§ Captain CrookshankAs and when open recruitment for the Civil Service is resumed, every endeavour will be made to ensure that the method of appointment secures candidates of the desired calibre, but I doubt whether an attempted inquiry of the kind suggested would be practicable or would serve any useful purpose.
§ Mr. LiddallIf my right hon. and gallant Friend doubts whether it would serve a useful purpose, will he at any rate try it?
§ Captain CrookshankIt is because I do not think it is worth doing that I do not propose to do it.