HC Deb 30 July 1965 vol 717 cc192-3W
Mr. Sheldon

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for dealing with the shortage of administrative class civil servants.

Mr. Callaghan

Full use will continue to be made of manpower resources within the Service by class-to-class promotions to the Administrative Class. In addition, the Civil Service Commission have this year extended the scope of the competitions for direct entry Principals; there are two current competitions, one for candidates between the ages of 30 and 35 and the other for older candidates up to the age of 52. These measures alone will not, however, make good the immediate shortage. In these circumstances a number of industrial and commercial organisations and the universities have been asked to consider releasing able and adaptable people for temporary employment in the Civil Service. Those chosen will mostly be aged between 30 and 40 and they will serve as Temporary Principals for about two years. They will bring valuable experience with them and I hope in due course it will be possible to further the exchange of experience between the Civil Service, the universities and industry by arranging temporary secondments of Civil Servants on a reciprocal basis.