§ COLONEL PALMER (Gravesend)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether it is the case that there are 26 vacancies on the upper grade of the Secretarial Department of the General Post Office; and, if so, whether it is intended to fill up these or any future similar vacancies which may occur by the usual open competition examinations applicable to Class I. offices; and if it be intended to maintain a number of Upper Division Clerks in the Secretarial Department, are they to be placed upon the scale recommended by the Ridley Commission for Clerks on the superior grade?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. A. MORLEY,) Nottingham, E.There are 26 vacancies in the branch of the Post Office to which the question refers. It is not intended to fill up those vacancies in the manner which he describes. The future organisation of the Post Office is under the consideration of the Treasury, and until that Board has arrived at a decision I am unable to state the intentions of the Government.