§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether candidates with actual commercial experience have been nominated to compete for two only of the ten vacancies which have occurred in the general consular service since the adoption of the now scheme based on the recommendations of the Committee of 1903; and whether this proportion will be increased in the future.
§ MR. RUNCIMANThere have boon two examinations for five vacancies each since the adoption of the new scheme. For the first examination, which was hold in July, 1905, it was decided that the fairest course was to take the candidates from those who had long been expecting a nomination under the old regulations. At the second examination, which has just been hold, two vacancies out of five were reserved for candidates with actual commercial experience. The number of candidates for nomination of that class was, however, very small, though every effort was made both by advertisement and private inquiry to obtain more competitors.