§ 24. Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that a number of Civil Service candidates during the last appointment, having been passed by the medical examination, have had to pay £1 1s. to an occulist for a sight test, and have not been entitled to any information whatever as to the result; and whether any steps can be taken to have the money refunded to candidates whose eyesight was found to be satisfactory?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Masterman)It is the duty of the Civil Service Commissioners, under Clause 3 of the Order in Council of 10th January, 1910, to satisfy themselves that every candidate for their certificate "is free from any physical defect or disease which would be likely to interfere with the proper discharge of his duties." In some cases the report of the first doctor leaves some doubt as to the fitness of the candidate in respect of eyesight or hearing, and a further examination by a specialist is found to be necessary. The fees for such examination are paid by the candidate, with whom it rests to satisfy the Commissioners as to his physical fitness. It is not the practice of the Commissioners to inform candidates of the contents of the medical reports on which their decision is based.