§ Mr. Sharpasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what decisions have been reached and action taken to provide work, other than that of the examination of candidates for the Civil Service, to the Civil Service Commission; and, in particular, whether negotiations with the Federation of British Industries have resulted in any work for industry being carried out on an agency basis.
§ Mr. Glenvil HallApproval in principle has been given for the Civil Service Selection Board to act (if there is a demand for their services) as the agents of interested business firms and industrial and commercial undertakings for the170W selection of candidates for employment by them. Such arrangements would be experimental, and the Board's prime function would remain recruitment for the Civil Service. In view of the uncertain future of the Selection Board organisation, no commitments for agency work are to be undertaken beyond 1949.
Discussions on this basis have been held with the Federation of British Industries, and a scheme is under consideration whereby the Federation will approach a number of firms which have vacancies in 1949 who would wish to put forward candidates to undergo the C.S.S.B. tests, modified as required. As yet, no work for industry has actually been carried out.