§ MR. BROADHURST (Nottingham, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his, attention has been called to statements in the Press, notably in the Manchester Guardian, to the effect that the Government are about to throw open the appointment of Factory and Workshop Inspectors to open competition, and whether this is intended to prevent the further appointment of workmen inspectors?
§ MR. MATTHEWSNo, Sir; I have not seen the statements in question. The existing scheme for the examination of Factory Inspectors is now under revision, but the changes in contemplation will not have the effect of preventing the appointment of working men candi- 677 dates in the future. It is not intended to throw open these appointments to open competition.