§ MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education from what source he got the information supplied by him to the House on the 18th May last, to the effect that the examination announced to be held on the 13th December, 1898, to fill a vacancy in the position of assistant in the South Kensington Museum (Art Branch) had been actually held; and whether he is now aware that no examination was held, and that a gentleman was appointed to the position without examination.
§ THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON EDUCATION (Sir J. GORST,) Cambridge UniversityThe information given by me to the House in May last was based upon the information at that time in the possession of the Science and Art Department respecting the proceedings of thn Civil Service Commissioners in the matter. It appears from information subsequently given to the House by the Secretary to the Treasury that the examination in question was begun but not completed, because there was only one competitor, and he was qualified by previous examination.