§ MR. WARTONasked the Postmaster General, Whether he has given an appointment on the establishment of the Secretary's Office, General Post Office, to his own private secretary, that gentleman not having been examined by the Civil Service Commissioners, and holding no certificate from them; and, whether he is not disqualified by reason of his being over the age for such an appointment?
§ MR. FAWCETTIn reply to the hon. and learned Member, I have to state that I have not given an appointment to my Private Secretary in the Secretary's Department of the General Post Office without his having been examined by the Civil Service Commissioners, or holding a certificate from them. A power is conferred by the 7th clause of the Order in Council of the 4th of June, 1870, upon a Chief of a Department, with the consent of the Treasury, to nominate, under exceptional circumstances, a person for employment in the Civil Service. I considered that these circumstances existed in the case of my Private Secre- 1369 tary, and, with the consent of the Treasury, I have nominated him to a vacancy in the third class clerkships in the Secretary's Office of the Post Office. But his appointment will be dependent on his passing an examination and obtaining a certificate from the Civil Service Commissioners. With respect to the question of age, my Secretary is in his 27th year; but that does not affect the appointment.