§ 80. Mr. R. McLARENasked the Home Secretary the number of applicants for the vacancies for sub-inspectors of mines; how many were nominated for the several mines inspection divisions; and if the Mining Board ignored the claims of applicants who had served in His Majesty's forces during the War?
§ Mr. SHORTTThere were 91 applications and 10 vacancies. Of the vacancies, three were in the Yorkshire and North Midland Division, three in the. South Wales Division, and one in each of the other four divisions. The Board for Mining Examinations, to whom all the applications were referred, have recommended the 10 candidates they considered best qualified to fill these posts. It was laid down in the scheme of selection that other things being equal, preference should be given to candidates who had served in His Majesty's forces, and there is, I am assured, no foundation for the suggestion that this instruction was ignored.
§ Mr. McLARENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these students, having joined the Army, have had no opportunity of studying during the War, and that they were put in competition with men who had stayed at home, and under the circumstances does he not consider that there should be preferential treatment in such cases?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe question of the safety of life and limb is concerned.