§ 51. Mr. E. BROWNasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why it is proposed to hold an open competitive examination in the autumn for recruitment to the writing assistant class, in view of the fact that the Government announced that their policy was to restrict new entrants to the Civil Service; and whether he is prepared to postpone such examination so long as there are ex-Service civil servants on the substitution pool?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Ronald McNeill)In reply to the first half of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Richmond (Sir Newton Moore) on 26th April last. With regard to the latter half of the question, it is essential in the public interest that appointments to the established Civil Service should be made from time to time by open competition, and I am not prepared to accept the hon. Member's suggestion.