§ 42. Mr. Emeryasked the Prime Minister whether in view of the unfavourable criticisms in the Fourth Report of the Committee of National Expenditure, upon Departmental efficiency, he will alter the method of selection of entrants into the Civil Service so that Government Departments may obtain more competent staffs with the training and resource required for handling problems, in the solution of which the Committee reports that there has been Departmental failure to profit by the lessons of earlier crises?
§ Mr. AttleeI do not read the Committee's report as implying any general condemnation of the efficiency of the Governmental machine; such a judgment 511 would be ungenerous and untrue, and my right hon. Friend could not for a moment subscribe to it. Since the outbreak of war permanent recruitment to the Civil Service has been suspended, and additional staff is obtained as necessary by the engagement of experienced people from the business and professional world.