HC Deb 27 March 1907 vol 171 cc1816-7
SIR GILBERT PARKER

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if a naval officer has been appointed to the position of water-guard inspector at Gravesend; and, if so, whether this is a departure from the past practice of promoting an experienced assistant inspector to such positions, which was an encouragement to capable men to enter the service and fit themselves for the highest duties of their profession.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY (Mr. Runciman,) Dewsbury

The Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. It is not the case that, as suggested in the Question, vacancies as water-guard inspector have hitherto been exclusively filled by the promotion of assistant inspectors, nor does the present appointment imply any discontinuance of the practice which the Board of Customs have always followed of giving due consideration to the claims of deserving subordinate officers in filling the superior appointments in the water-guard branch of this service.

SIR GILBERT PARKER

Would it not be a good thing to keep these appointments within the coastguard service itself instead of going outside?

MR.RUNCIMAN

Every consideration has been given to the circumstances of this appointment, which, in my opinion, is a highly proper one.