§ MR. J. G. TALBOTasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is proposed to continue the present system of examinations of candidates for first appointments in the Army, lasting over fourteen days; and, whether it would not be possible, as at the Universities, to test the qualifications of candidates in a shorter examination?
MR. GATHORNE HARDYThe Civil Service Commissioners (who have the entire management of these examinations) report that—
The time occupied by these examinations is necessarily lengthened because the candidates are allowed to choose from a considerable number of subjects.The Civil Service Commissioners do not think that the competitive part of the examination could be fairly carried out in a shorter time. The whole examination might, however, be shortened by two days if the preliminary examination, which now immediately precedes the competitive one, and occupies that time, was held at a separate date. A change has been introduced this year by which preliminary examinations have been held in April and May, in anticipation of the examinations in July. This change has worked successfully; and, in the opinion of the Civil Service Commissioners, will make it unnecessary that any preliminary examinations should be held immediately preceding the competitive one.