§ Mr. JOWETTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received a memorial from the staff officers and clerks of the second division serving in his Department representing that a clerk of the Foreign Office establishment has been appointed to fill the post of assistant in the Treaty Department of the Foreign Office, contrary to the recommendation of the late Royal Commission on Civil Establishments that in future this and similar posts in the chief clerk's and librarian's departments should be filled by selection from amongst the second division clerks of the Foreign Office; whether the duties of the post in question are at present being performed by a staff officer who has discharged them for a period of four months annually during the past ten years; why in the circumstances a staff officer has not now been appointed to the post in accordance with the recommendation of the Royal Commission; and whether any steps are at present being taken to secure to those staff officers and second division clerks who have thus been deprived of prospects of promotion, hitherto expressly assured to them under the recommendations of a Royal Commission, other and corresponding prospects in order to compensate them for the deprivation they have suffered?
§ Sir E GREYThe recommendations of the Royal Commission (1890) were carefully considered by a Departmental Committee, and it was decided not to adopt them so far as promotion to the rank of assistant is concerned. Moreover, the 2833W Commission contemplated that "it would be possible gradually to make the higher post staff appointments carrying even less salary than £650." The Secretary of State is prepared to consider the promotion of second division clerks when vacancies occur in such posts as those mentioned by the Commission, provided they possess the requisite qualifications; but as regards the post now in question, there were no second division clerks or staff officers properly qualified or competent to fill the post.