§ MR. HOWARD (Middlesex, Tottenham)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether many writers who have been employed from 20 years downwards upon work superior to copying, have, in consequence of the efficient and satisfactory manner in which they have performed such work, been recommended for promotion to a new per- 969 manent class; whether writers so recommended for promotion have been required to pass another examination to prove their fitness for the performance of the same work as that which has been assigned to them for so many years past; and whether the Government would in the future consent to forego such additional examination in those cases where the conduct and efficiency of the writers so recommended for promotion have been certified by the chiefs under whom they have served for so many years?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON,) Leeds, N.A certain number of copyists have been appointed to a new permanent class, where such a class has been proved to be necessary. Such copyists can only be so appointed upon obtaining a certificate from the Civil Service Commissioners, who are the sole judges of the means to be taken for testing qualifications. The Treasury has no power to instruct the Civil Service Commissioners to dispense with any examination which the Commissioners deem necessary.