§ MR. CALDWELL (Glasgow, St. Rollox)asked the Lord Advocate, Whether it is the case that the recent appointment of Mr. Stewart to the office of one of the Senior School Inspectors in Scotland is the first departure in Scotland, in such appointments, from the principle of promotion by strict seniority of service?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)As I have previously stated, the principle of promotion by seniority is not now, and has never been, admitted by their Lordships. In the small number of appointments to Chief Inspectorships previously made, seniority did not, in their Lordships' opinion, coincide with the highest merit; but they decline to establish a precedent by such cases, as to do so would be detrimental to the Public Service.