§ CAPTAIN M'CALMONTI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, pending the re-organisation of the Civil Service in connection with the Ridley Commission, the usual examinations in the Lower Division of the Civil Service have been suspended since August, 1887; whether, on the Order in Council reorganising the Lower Division of the Civil Service being issued, it is now intended to hold an examination on 13th May; whether he is aware that many young men, who have spent a couple of years in preparation, will be a month or two over age at that date; and whether, considering that no notification was given that such an interval as two and a half or nearly three years would elapse before another examination should take place, such candidates will be allowed some extension of the maximum ago at the forthcoming examination?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON,) Leeds, N.It is true that there has been a suspension of open competitive examinations for Lower Division Clerkships since August, 1887; but both by answers to questions in this House and by advertisements in newspapers, candidates were warned some time ago that no date could be fixed for the next examination. The rule as to age is fixed by the Order in Council, and consequently cannot be varied at discretion in favour of individuals. The examinations were 1814 not suspended in connection with the Ridley Commission, but because there were no vacancies present or in the near future.