§ Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether paragraph 13 of Clause VI. of Admiralty Letter, dated 13th April, 1907, A. 1806, which states that hired writers will be entered as required in the dockyards either by selection from boy writers who have reached the age of nineteen, or by appointment from a general list of successful candidates at an educational examination to be held periodically at the respective yards as occasion demands, is to be considered as no longer operative; and, if not, will he state why Mr. Sydney Taylor has been entered as a hired writer in the Naval Store Department, Sheerness, without being called upon to pass a competitive examination for this position?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe paragraph referred to is still operative. In the instance given by the hon. Member, however, there was no boy writer available for promotion, and there was no general list at Sheerness, no examination ever having been necessary in that yard, as boy writers have always hitherto been available. A special examination for one vacancy would not have been justified, especially as the whole matter of the system of examination for writers is under revision. Accordingly, the place was filled by direct appointment, the applicant presenting himself with thoroughly good qualifications.