§ Mr. FORRESTasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Government has considered the recommendations contained in the Fourth Report of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service, dated 2nd April, 1914, relative to appointments held directly from the Crown; and what action, if any, has been taken, or is proposed to be taken, thereon?
§ Mr. R. McNEILLThe present Government has bad no occasion to give specific consideration to the recommendations in the Report referred to, but the following changes have been made since 1914 in the direction recommended by the Commission. A list of civil appointments held direct from the Crown was presented to Parliament in August last (House of Commons Paper 166 of session 1924–25). As regards His Majesty's Inspectors of Schools an arrangement is now in operation under which the claims of candidates for these posts are scrutinised by the Civil Service Commissioners before their names are submitted for the approval of His Majesty. As regards Heads of Departments, under an arrangement first made by the Government in 1920, all appointments of Permanent Heads of Departments and certain other high officers require the consent of the Prime Minister.