§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state what percentage of assistants entering the Excise branch of the Inland Revenue service can pass beyond the rank of first class officer; and if he will instruct the Civil Service Commissioners to insert this information in the papers supplied to candidates for appointments in the service.
(Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish.) To determine the percentage of assistants entering the Excise branch of the Inland Revenue service who can pass beyond the rank of first class officer would demand an actuarial calculation. It can only be said that of places open to persons entering the Excise as assistants, the number of posts carrying a salary in excess of £250 (the maximum pay of a first class officer) at present stands to the number of posts carrying salaries not exceeding £250 in the proportion of 1.5. The proportion is, of course, subject to variation from time to time. I think it would not be desirable to publish this information in the notices issued to candidates by the Civil Service Commissioners.