§ MR. SNOWDENI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that out of a classification of twenty-six superintendents in the Customs service only eight have been promoted since the beginning of the year 1899; that some of them have been for years marking time at their maximum salary; that through changes which took place in 1899 some are actually receiving a smaller income to-day than they were ten years ago, though performing the same duties; that 69 per cent. of the superintendents entered the service by open competition and have spent an average of about sixteen years in charge of the smaller ports, he will explain why there is withheld from them a reasonable flow of promotion and less generous treatment than is shown to any other grade in the Department who entered the service under similar conditions.
§ MR. HOBHOUSEI will endeavour to get the information if the hon. Member 1060 will put the Question down again tomorrow.