§ MR. CLANCY (Dublin Co., N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, What are the duties performed by the Assistant Commissioners of Intermediate Education in Ireland, and by the Chief Clerk and the other clerks respectively; and, whether the office of the Board of Intermediate Education in Ireland will come within the purview of the inquiry to be held by the Royal Commission into the Civil Service Departments; and, if so, whether the Government will postpone filling the vacancy in the office of Assistant Commissioner of Intermediate Education in Ireland till that Commission has reported?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)was understood to say that the Assistant Commissioners of Intermediate Education in Ireland were responsible for the general superintendence of the Office, and especially for the supervision of the papers set by the different Examiners, which was a work of considerable difficulty, requiring special qualifications. They had also to supervise the working arrangements of the examinations. The clerical staff of the Office 1260 was very small. He was not quite certain whether this Office would come within the purview of the inquiry to be held into the Civil Service Department; but he would consider the matter, and postpone anything of the kind contemplated by the Question if the Office was included.