§ MR. VICARY GIBBS (Herts, St. Albans)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that the Treasury Minute of 24th March, 1891, relative to an inquiry into the administration of the Outdoor Department of Customs, states that the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer has been directed to the success which elsewhere in the Public Service has attended Departmental examinations held to gauge the qualifications of officers at certain stages of their career, whether he can say if this statement refers to the Excise Department; and, if not, to which Department of the Public Service it does refer; and whether he can say what is intended to be conveyed by the words certain stages in their career?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTThe Minute was issued before I went to the Exchequer, and I am unable to give a more exact interpretation of the meaning of the passage referred to than that which appears from its wording. If the hon. Member desires more detailed information he should apply to my predecessor.