§ DR. CAMERON (Glasgow, College)asked the Lord Advocate, If Mr. C. J. B. Milne, B.A., of Pembroke College, Cambridge, has been nominated Inspector of Schools for the Aberdeen District; what is Mr. Milne's age, and the length of time, if any, during which he has served as an Inspector in State-aided Schools; if Mr. Milne has ever acted as Sub-Inspector or Inspector's Assistant; and, if so, for what length of time in either capacity; and, whether it is the case that he has been promoted over the heads of two Sub-Inspectors and 20 Inspectors' Assistants?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)Mr. Milne, who is 24 years of age, has been nominated an Inspector of Schools, and neither did nor could act in that capacity before his nomination, nor was he previously a Sub-Inspector nor an Inspector's Assistant. He was nominated solely on the ground of his fitness for the post, from high qualifications and attainments, and success as a teacher in posts of much responsibility. Their Lordships' aim has been to secure the best candidate for the post, and they cannot admit that Mr. Milne was nominated "over the heads" of those who held posts of a different grade under the Department.