§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the regulation as to compulsory retirement at the age of 65, embodied in Clause 10 of the Order in Council of 15th August 1890, is intended to be applied to all clerks both of the higher and second divisions now serving in the Civil Service; whether he is aware that one of the clerks now serving in the office of the Registrar General, Scotland, with 40 years' service, is over 70 years of age, and by what authority a clerk of that age is retained in the service in view of the regulation referred to; and whether appointment to the class of district 1606 examiners in the office of the Registrar General, Scotland, is made by promotion from the second division or by the nomination of the Read of the Department from persons outside the Civil Service; whether any second division clerks have actually been appointed to this class; and whether, on the occurrence of vacancies therein, the claims to promotion of the second division will be considered?
§ *THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. GRAHAM MURRAY,) ButeshireThe Order in Council of 15th August 1890, applies only to the higher division of the Civil Service. The clerk referred to, who is a diligent and useful officer, and quite efficient, is not in the higher division, and therefore does not come under the regulation as to compulsory retirement. The appointment to the post of district examiner is in the gift of the Secretary for Scotland and the persons selected have been sometimes from within and sometimes from without the office. The selection may be made from persons either inside or outside the Civil Service, but on the occurrence of a vacancy the claims of the second division clerks to promotion will be carefully considered.