§ 62. Mr. Philips Priceasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the present system for engaging staff for the various research organisations controlled by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is slow, cumbersome and insufficiently sensitive to ensure that the right men and women are quickly fitted into the scientific posts for which they are best suited; and whether arrangements will be made to revise the procedue so that the efficiency of these research institutions can be maintained and increased.
§ Mr. Glenvil HallThe present system of centralised recruitment by the Civil Service Commision of scientific staff was introduced for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, in common with all other Departments employing scientific staff, in accordance with the White Paper on the Scientific Civil Service (Cmd. 6679). The introduction of the new system during the difficult period of reconstruction aggravated the inevitable teething troubles. Close consideration will be given to the experience gained during this period in formulating future recruiting arrangements.