§ MR. VINCENT KENNEDY (Cavan, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State 31 for the Home Department whether the position of assistant inspector of factories is subject to competitive examination; how many assistant inspectors are there; how many assistant inspectors of factories have been appointed during the three years last past; and when will candidates for this position be called up again, and for how many vacancies.
§ MR. GLADSTONEThe post of factory inspector's assistant is usually filled up by a competitive examination among a certain number of candidates nominated by the Home Secretary. There are now forty assistants. One was appointed in 1904 to fill a vacancy caused by retirement, and four additional appointments were made in 1906. The date of the next examination depends on the occurrence of a vacancy, and I cannot say for certain when that will be.