MR. T. F. RICHARDSTo ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in connection with the open competitive examination held in October, 1900, for second-class clerkships, lower section, in the Customs, he will state the present average salary of the successful candidates; what was their average salary immediately prior to promotion to upper-section clerkships, and what average immediate increase did they receive; and, in connection with the examination for second division clerkships held in September, 1900, the present average salary of the successful candidates who entered the Savings Bank Department of the Post Office; what is the percentage of appointments with salaries above £200 to appointments with salaries up to £200 in the Customs clerks and Savings Banks second division clerks classifications respectively; whether the entrance examinations for Customs clerks and second division clerks were practically neutral in 1900; and what other positions besides those in the ordinary classification Customs clerks have open to them.
(Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) I am informed that the present average salary of the successful candidates at the October, 1900, competition for Customs 2370 second-class clerkships, lower section, is £195 6s. 8d. Their average salary immediately prior to promotion to the upper section (one clerk has not yet been promoted) was £118 11s. 5d. The average immediate increase of salary to those promoted was £81 8s. 6d. The present average salary of the Second Division clerks who entered the Savings Bank Department of the Post Office in 1900 is £124. The percentage of appointments with salaries above £200 to appointments with salaries up to £200 in the Customs clerks classification is 99; the question, however, is not applicable to the case of Second Division clerks whose scale of salary is £70 to £300 or £350. The Civil Service Commissioners inform me that in 1900 the examinations for the two classes of clerkships referred to were quite distinct and were held at different times. As regards the last part of the Question, I understand that clerks, in common with other officers, are eligible for appointment to chief officerships and collectorships of Customs as well as to any position in the superintending establishment for which they are considered qualified.