HC Deb 06 July 1888 vol 328 cc570-1
MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, What is the cause of the delay which is taking place in the conceding of a special rate of pay to the writers employed in the Statistical Department of the Custom House, in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry, and at what date the Treasury sanction may be expected; when will the decision of the Treasury be made known with regard to the writers employed in the Education Office and Stationery Office, who were recommended for promotion to the Lower Division, and why it is that 18 months having elapsed since the issue of the Treasury Minute of December, 1886, no promotions in those offices have yet taken place; whether it is a fact that the "cases of appeal" are appeals against a condition as to limit of age, which condition does not appear in the Promotion Clause of the Treasury Minute, and what is the authority for such condition being imposed; and, whether, owing to the practical suspension of open competitive examinations for the Lower Division, it is possible to comply with such condition?

THE SECRETARY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)

The cases of copyists at the out-ports of the Customs have now been settled; and the Treasury is about to issue a Minute which will deal with all the outstanding cases of copyists at the Customs, including the special rates to the copyists in the Statistical Department. There has been some difficulty in making arrangements which would be satisfactory to the Treasury in respect to the copyists at the Edcation Offices and Stationery Offices; but we hope to be able to settle them very shortly. The cases are not generally cases of appeal against a condition as to limit of age. We are prepared to give consideration to any case in which opportunity for competition cannot be afforded. In any case in which a copyist has been recommended for promotion, and whose case has not been considered on account of his being within the limit of age at which he can compete for examination, I should think it right to afford him facilities.