Captain TERRELLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether power is vested in the Government of the day, and if so, under what Act of Parliament and to what extent, to add to the established list of the Civil Service without prior reference to, and sanction of, the House of Commons; and whether, in view of the strength of feeling on this policy of adding to national burdens against the best interests of the nation, he will first secure the approval of Members?
Mr. YOUNGPowers of appointing staff are expressly vested, in many instances, but not in all, in the authorities controlling the several Departments, subject to the approval of the Treasury as regards numbers and rates of remuneration, by numerous Acts of Parliament, of which I may instance 52 and 53 Vict. cap. 30 in regard to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and 62 and 63 Vict. cap. 30 in regard to the Board of Education. The control of the House of Commons over the numbers and emoluments of the staffs employed is secured by the submission to it each year of the Estimates providing for payment of the salaries and wages involved. An increase of the established list might be brought about either by the recruitment of additional established personnel for work of a permanent character or by the transfer to the established list of personnel who are already employed in a 431W temporary capacity on permanent work, and I do not consider that it would be practicable to defer all such changes until the approval of the House had been obtained to the relevant Estimate.