§ EARL PERCYasked the Postmaster General, with reference to the promotions about to be made in the Savings Bank Department of the Post Office, Whether it is the fact that it is proposed to pass over duly qualified officers in favour of others below them in their class; and, if so, whether he can state the grounds upon which this course is to be adopted?
§ MR. FAWCETTSir, in reply to the Question of the noble Earl, I have to state that no names have yet been submitted to me for promotion in the Savings Bank Department. In order to prevent misapprehension, I think it may be well to mention that, by a long-established rule of the Service, promotion from the third to the second class depends upon seniority combined with full competency, and from the second class to the first, and to appointments above the first, upon superior merit. I can only add that in the promotions about to be made I shall endeavour to act on these rules with the strictest impartiality.