§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Dublin Co., S.)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state if the barrier between first and second class officers of Excise is maintained in the interests of discipline and efficiency, why it is that all second class officers are kept for years behind the barrier at a stationary salary before their qualifications for promotion are inquired into; what is the difference in the nature of the duties of first and second class officers; whether a first class officer has disciplinary power over a second class officer; and whether it would be possible, to so increase the maximum of the second class and the minimum of the first class officer that, when an officer reaches the maximum, there would be a possibility of a vacancy arising in the class above to which he might be promoted if found deserving?
§ *THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover SquareThe rate of promotion from one class to another in the Excise depends upon the occurrence of vacancies in the higher class. It is the practice of the Inland Revenue to inquire into the qualifications for promotion of officers in the lower class whenever vacancies are likely to occur. Broadly, the difference between the duties of a first and second class officer is that the larger and more responsible? duties are entrusted to the former and the smaller and less important duties to the latter. My answer to the third and fourth paragraphs of the hon. Member's question is in the negative.