§ MR. SHEILasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he will lay upon the Table a Return of the marks made by candidates at the last two examinations of the Army Medical Department; whether the vacancies have, in all cases, been filled by those candidates who obtained the highest marks in the competitive examination; why information as to the number of marks gained by unsuccessful candidates in the examination for the Army Medical Department is refused; and, whether he is aware that this information is supplied to candidates for the Navy Medical Department?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI cannot give the Return beyond what has already been published. For obvious reasons it is not the practice in any examination to give the marks of unsuccessful candidates unless they can be designated by numbers. In the examinations for the Medical Staff, the candidates are examined by name, and no numbers are assigned to them. The vacancies have in all cases been filled by those candidates who obtained the highest aggregate of marks in the compulsory subjects without failing to reach the standard in any of them. This is in accordance with the published terms of the competition. Marks in the voluntary subjects have only a value in determining the place of the candidate on the list of those successful in virtue of their marks in the compulsory subjects. I understand that information as to the number of marks gained by unsuccessful candidates was refused, in consequence of the wish of the Examiners; but I see no sufficient reason why a candidate should not, on his application, be informed of the marks he gained, and I will give directions accordingly. I understand that similar information is 41 afforded in the case of the Naval Medical Department.