§ MR. H. H. MARKSTo ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that on the recent retirement of the inspector of the outdoor department of the Customs in London, an inspector was brought from Liverpool to London, a surveyor was moved from Glasgow to Liverpool, and another surveyor from London to Glasgow, to fill the resulting vacancies, entailing a cost of nearly £1,000; and will he explain why the
† See (4) Debates, cliv., 1075.622 vacant inspectorship was not filled by a London man, and the resulting vacancies by London men who were entitled to promotion.(Answered by Mr. McKenna.) It is the case that a recent vacancy of inspector in London was filled by the transfer of an inspector from Liverpool, but that transfer was at the officer's own request and expense. The resulting vacancy of inspector having been offered to and refused by a London surveyor, was filled by the promotion of a first-class surveyor at Glasgow, and a second-class surveyor in London was promoted to the first-class surveyorship at Glasgow. The cost to the Crown of these two removals is not likely to exceed £100. Vacancies of inspector are filled by the promotion of the most suitable officer from among the general body, irrespective of the particular port at which he may be stationed.