§ MR. SUMMERBELLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the examinations for mines inspectorships are competitive, and all candidates having colliery managers' certificates, under the Coal Mines Act, are allowed to sit regardless
†See Col. 545.711 of position in life; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of having a coal-mining man as examiner instead of a metal-mining man, in view of the fact that the coal miners far exceed the metal miners.
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE, Leeds, W.)Examinations for the post of Inspector of Mines are in the regular course competitive. Candidates are selected and are nominated by the Secretary of State after careful consideration has been given to their professional qualifications, one of which is the possession of a manager's certificate. Their position in life, apart from professional qualifications, is not taken into account. As regards the last part of the Question I can only say that the arrangements for this, as for other Civil Service examinations, are entirely in the hands of the Civil Service Commissioners.
§ Mr. SUMMERBELLWould it not be advisable that all candidates should enter by competition rather than by selection?