§ 91. Mr. MOLESasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the result of the Civil Service examination held on 6th January, 1920, under the competitive examinations regulation for junior appointments (intermediate class) in the Home Civil Service; is he aware that only eight candidates have been declared successful, whereas in the January, 1915, examination for similar appointments over 120 candidates were given places; is he aware that the candidates who sat for this examination feel 41 aggrieved at the very small number of posts; and whether, in view of these facts, he will see to it that a greater number of appointments will now be given or, in the alternative, that those candidates who have qualified will be promoted in the departments in which they are serving?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Stanley Baldwin)At the competitive examination for junior appointments held on the 6th January last, admission to which was limited to candidates previously employed in the Civil Service, 60 candidates reached the qualifying standard. Eight vacancies are available for allotment to the candidates, and eight candidates have consequently been declared successful. If additional vacancies are reported the list of successful candidates may be extended; but the Civil Service Commissioners cannot control the occurrence of vacancies and can only fill such vacancies as are reported to them. One hundred and fifteen appointments were offered to candidates on the list resulting from the open competitive examination of January, 1915. Of these appointments 36 were to the situation of Assistant Surveyor of Taxes, which was included among junior appointments in 1915, but has since been withdrawn from that class; 40 were to the Admiralty, which has reported no vacancies to be filled on this occasion. The appointments to the Admiralty were for special duty in connection with the War and the number was exceptionally large.