§ MR. GRAHAM (St. Pancras, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why a first-class clerk has been promoted from Pentonville Prison to take charge of stores and accounts at St. Albans Prison, he having only been appointed clerk in 1880, while there are 55 first-class clerks senior to him in appointment, 15 of whom had previously been in charge of stores and accounts?
§ MR. ASQUITHI am informed that the clerk who has been appointed to take charge of stores and accounts at St. Albans was appointed clerk in 1876. It is not the case that 55 clerks senior to him have been passed over: only 15 have been so passed over. In making these appointments efficiency, as well as seniority, has to betaken into account.