§ MR. FRASER-MACKINTOSHI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether promotion by service and merit is recognised in the staff of the General Register House, Edinburgh; and whether it is true that a vacancy in the Inspectorship of Births, Deaths, and Marriages for the Northern Counties of Scotland has been filled up by the appointment, over the heads of several well qualified officials, of a Mr. Gordon, entirely unconnected with the service, and inexperienced in its duties?
§ *MR. J. P. B. ROBERTSONI assume that the hon. Member refers to the appointment of a Mr. Gibson to the Examinership of the Northern District. The Examinership of this District, which includes the Hebrides, Orkney, and 1752 Shetland, and a large part of the Northern Mainland, involves duties of a very special nature, and requires very special qualifications. Mr. Gibson, so far from being, as stated in the question, inexperienced in those duties, had acted during the absence of the late Examiner, on sick leave for some months, and he proved himself to be so efficient that it was decided to appoint him to the vacant office. The appointment of Mr. Gibson implied no disregard of the services and merits of the staff.