asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he has yet appointed a head of profession of the Accountancy Service in the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement.

No appointment has yet been made of a head of the Government Accountancy Service. The recent advertisements did not produce a suitable candidate but it remains the intention to fill the post.

Is the Minister aware that this matter has been hanging fire ever since the Melville-Burney Report in 1973, and that there is a pressing need for revision of the Treasury's rules for accounting, which has been hanging fire since 1873?

I certainly accept the urgency of the points made by the hon. Gentleman. I assure him that discussions are currently proceeding with representatives of the profession concerned to see whether we can identify a possible area in which we can get men of the requisite talents and abilities to fill these posts.