§ MR. COCHRANE (Ayrshire, N.)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused to candidates who are preparing themselves for examination for clerkships in 1057 the second division of the Civil Service, by the intimation issued by the Civil Service Commissioners that it is not likely that a competition will be required in the spring and summer of 1909; and whether he can name any prospective date for the next competitive examination for clerkships in the second division.
(Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) Examinations for clerkships in the Civil Service, whether in the second division or otherwise, are necessarily held to meet the requirements of public departments. While, therefore, I regret that inconvenience should be caused to candidates by the suspension of examinations, I could not regard such a reason as a justification for holding examinations when not required. As regards the immediate future I understand that the present supply of second division clerks will satisfy the public requirements for a great many months to come, and I do not think it would be possible at this stage to name even an approximate date for the next examination.