§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether there are any officers amongst the second division clerks and examiners in the Department of the Comptroller and Auditor General who are qualified to fill impending vacancies in the directing branch of that Department; if not, whether it is intended to fill these vacancies by officers to be selected by means of open competition under Class I.; and, if so, will he say in what respect these latter are more qualified for the work of auditing than second division clerks and examiners who have many years experience in the Exchequer and Audit Department.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) No decision has yet been arrived at as to filling the vacancies now in question; but the qualifications of the officers to whom the hon. Member refers will receive consideration.