§ 4. Dr. Dickson Mabonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider recommending the appointment of a Royal Commission on the recruitment, training and promotion policies of the Civil Service in view of the changed scope and nature of Government since the last review.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI doubt whether the time is ripe for another Royal Commission on the Civil Service. I agree that its functions are continually changing and developing, but I think we can adapt to meet this without requiring the apparatus of a major inquiry of this kind. If the hon. Member has any particular aspect of the problem in mind, perhaps he will let me know.
§ Dr. MabonIs not it a fact that it is over a hundred years since we had the last fundamental review of the Civil Service? Is it not also the case that in that time the Government have become involved in business and commerce and therefore require within the Civil Service people who have some knowledge of those affairs? Could not they be recruited from these professions? Is not it time at least to consider by a high-powered Royal Commission whether some fundamental changes are required?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterAs I said, the functions of the Civil Service are continually changing and we seek to meet them by many changes in the system of training, promotion and recruitment. I do not accept the suggestion of the hon. Gentleman that there should be a sort of fixed time interval between Royal Commissions.