asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will set up an appeals tribunal to consider the cases of those members of the staffs of approved societies who have a grievance against the status and salary of the posts offered to them under the new National Insurance scheme.

No, Sir. The grading of applicants for permanent posts in the Civil Service is the responsibility of the Civil Service Commissioners.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a definite pledge was given by His Majesty's Government to these people and that there are a number of them who are convinced that that pledge has in fact been broken? Would it not be advisable, for the good name of the Government, that there should be some appeals tribunal with whom they could lodge their claims in these cases?

By agreement with the Approved Societies Advisory Committee the selections for these appointments were handed over to the Civil Service Commissioners. That being so we cannot interfere with the Civil Service Commission, which is a statutory independent body.