§ Mr. BARNESasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether ho is aware that the deputy-surveyor to the Metropolitan police service has recently retired; that the son of the retiring officer was appointed to a position in the department on the day following his father's retirement; whether his salary on appointment was fixed in excess of the minimum of the class into which he was appointed; whether his early promotion has been secretly decided upon, thereby superseding officers of years of service in the department; whether one officer has already resigned under protest against rank injustice; whether the present chief surveyor succeeded his father in the position; and whether he has sanctioned this method of dealing with public appointments, paid for mainly from the rates of the Metropolis, or whether the position of the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District precludes the Secretary of State exercising effective revision of the recommendations of this officer?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe answer to the first two paragraphs is in the affirmative. On the retirement of the late second surveyor a reorganisation of the department was carried out, which involved, among other changes, the appointment of an additional technical clerk, to which post the son of the late second surveyor was appointed. On the last occasion when there was a vacancy for a technical clerkship, in 1910, and applications were invited by advertisements in the Press, this gentleman was a, candidate, and judged by his qualifications and testimonials he would then have obtained the appointment, but it was thought undesirable to appoint him at that time, as his father was at the head of the branch in which his work would lie. On his father's retirement this objection54W ceased to operate; and the appointment of a man possessing long practical experience obtained outside the department was considered desirable in the interests of the public service. For this reason he was appointed at a salary of £130, the minimum of the class being £115; but the salaries of the existing members of the class were at the same time increased as part of the general reorganisation. There is no foundation, whatever for the statement that this gentleman has been specially marked out for early promotion. On the contrary, he was expressly notified as a condition of the appointment that promotion would be strictly by merit, and that in the event of equality between two or more officers in respect of merit, length of service would turn the scale. A gentleman who was employed for two years in a temporary capacity has resigned. He was not qualified for appointment to a post on the permanent staff. The present chief surveyor was appointed in 1895 on the retirement of his father. The appointment referred to in the question was submitted by the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District for my approval. It was made after very careful consideration, and with regard solely to the requirements of the department and the interests of the public service and I am satisfied that the appointment was a proper one.