§ Mr. GOLDSTONEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the salaries of Class I. clerks employed in the Treasury are higher than in the majority of Government offices, thereby enabling the Treasury to command the highest-placed candidates in the competition; if so, will he say for what reason this course was adopted; and whether other offices have been deterred from adopting the principle of open competition to fill their higher posts by the certainty that they will not have a fair chance of securing the best men?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe salaries of Class I. clerks in the Treasury, namely, £200, rising to £500 per annum, are the same as in most of the principal public Departments which recruit their staff from the Class I. competition. I am not aware of any Department having been deterred from adopting the principle of open competition by such a consideration as is suggested in the question.