§ MR. J. F. X. O'BRIEN (Cork, E.)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether it is the intention of the Scotch Education Board, and also of the Treasury, to give effect to the footnote to page 399 of the Civil Service Estimates for the year ending 31st March, 1902, Class IV., to the effect that the number of inspectors will be ultimately decreased and of sub-inspectors increased as vacancies arise, in filling up vacancies in the inspecting staff occasioned by the death of Mr. Bathgate, late His Majesty's Inspector in South Glasgow, and other recent or impending changes; and, considering that the regulations have appeared in the Estimates for many years, how far the number of inspectors has been decreased within the last ten years; if there has been no decrease, can he state how far has the number been increased, and how many sub-inspectors of the first class have been appointed within the same period.
*MR. A GRAHAM MURRAYIn answer to the first paragraph of the hon. Member's question the note referred to has been and will be kept in view, subject to the requirements of the service from time to time. The answer to the second 604 paragraph is that during the last ten years the number of inspectors has been reduced from twenty-five to twenty-four, while the sub-inspectors have been increased from twenty-five to twenty-seven, apart from the science and art inspectors. The subordinate posts have been further increased by the appointment of junior inspectors. Five first-class sub-inspectors have been appointed during that period.