Mr. MacNEILL-WEIRasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the Whitley system in the Civil Service was introduced on the express understanding that it was without prejudice to the ordinary methods of approach by associations to heads of Departments on the one hand and to the executive rights of heads of Departments on the other; that, in spite of this, the General Board of Control for Scotland has recently declined to discuss with the appropriate association a matter affecting the relative seniority of certain clerical officers, and that this is wholly discordant with service practice; and whether he will rake steps to ensure that the representations made shall be properly dealt with?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirma- 609W tive. I am not aware, however, that it is in any way discordant with Civil Service practice that the General Board of Control for Scotland should have refused to discuss the relative seniority of certain clerical officers with an association which represents only one of the officers concerned.