HC Deb 26 July 1922 vol 157 cc466-7
82. Captain LOSEBY

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that in September, 1921, 212 ex-service men qualified in the examination for the posts of officers of Customs and Excise; that 100 of these were immediately appointed and 112 placed on a reserve list; and that the men placed on the reserve list were officially informed that they would be eligible for vacancies as they occurred; and what steps have been taken to redeem the implied undertaking then given that vacancies as they occurred would be filled from the reserve list?

Mr. YOUNG

The number of ex-service men who qualified at the September examination for poets of officer of Customs and Excise was 206, of whom 100 were declared successful and 106 placed on the reserve list. Not all the successful candidates have yet been appointed and it is doubtful whether any appointments will be made from the reserve list. No undertaking was given to the men placed on this List; on the contrary they were informed that no appointment could be guaranteed to any of them.

Captain LOSEBY

Does not the hon. Gentleman consider it most unfair to tell these people they will be placed on a reserve list and will be eligible, if there is no intention whatever of making use of that reserve list, and is it a fact that another examination is about to be held?

Mr. YOUNG

I will read the exact words of the announcement made to these men, and ask the hon. and gallant Member to say whether he considers it fair or not. It states that The following candidates have passed the tests but are not declared successful and no appointments can be guaranteed to any of them. The candidates whose names appear on this list will be eligible in order of merit at the discretion of the Civil Service Commissioners for any vacancies that it is decided to fill under this award. The names are in order of merit, and I think, in view of that announcement, it cannot be considered that an undue expectation was held out to these men.

Captain LOSEBY

Has anything been done in pursuance of the implied promise which is held out?

Mr. YOUNG

There is no implied promise. There is a list of vacancies which have to be filled up, first of all, from the successful candidates, and, in the second place, from the reserve list. All the successful candidates have not yet been placed, and there is very little prospect of getting down to the reserve list.