HC Deb 09 December 1949 vol 470 cc206-8W
Mr. Beswick

asked the Secretary of State for Air as the method of selection by his Department of unestablished civil seryants for establishments is based on reports only, whether he is satisfied that these personal reports are made out to a common standard throughout the service.

Mr. A. Henderson

It cannot be expected that a large number of different reporting officers will apply identical standards, but every effort was made to reduce to a minimum variations in reporting standards by introducing a very detailed form of report which was issued with accompanying instructions to reporting officers.

Mr. Beswick

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) why his Department decided to establish their agreed quota of unestablished civil servants without first getting agreement on the method of selection with the departmental Whitley Council, (2) if he will ensure that the vacancies that still remain in his Department for establishment of hitherto unestablished personnel will be filled in accordance with a method acceptable to his departmental Whitley Council.

Mr. A. Henderson

The official side of the Air Ministry Departmental Whitley Council were reluctantly compelled to settle the method of selection without the agreement of the Staff Side as the proposals made by the Staff Association concerned were inconsistent with the overriding agreement reached on the National Whitley Council, to which their representatives were parties, and which was intended to ensure that the best and not the most senior temporary clerks in each age group should be selected for establishment, provided they had a minimum of three years service (including service in the Forces) and at least six months civil service. The Staff Side have since asked for discussions to be re-opened on the method of selection for the balance of the posts and conversations are proceeding.