§ 65. Mr. TOUCHEasked the Secretary to the Treasury if it is intended to take any action in response to the prayer of a petition addressed to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury on 24th May last on behalf of boy clerks who have passed examination for positions as assistant clerks in the Civil Service; will he say how many candidates were successful in the examinations held in July, 1915, and January, 1916, and how many of the successful candidates have received permanent positions; and are steps being taken to increase the number of appointments of boy clerks to positions now occupied by temporary clerks at a much higher remuneration?
Mr. McKINNON WOODYes, Sir. The matter is under consideration, and I hope an announcement of the arrangements proposed will be made very shortly. The numbers declared successful at the examinations of July, 1915, and January, 1916, were 397 and 317 respectively. Of the former 192, and of the latter six, have received permanent positions. In reply to the last part of the question I do not think it will be necessary to make any special arrangement for the retention of boys who have been unsuccessful in the assistant clerks' examination.