§ 31. Lieut.-Colonel JAMESasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if he will state the reason for the filling of an acting post of higher grade technical assistant in the engineering division in the Office of Works by a non-service War entrant; whether there are ex-service candidates serving in that division with the requisite qualifications for this post; if so, why one of such candidates has not been selected to fill the post under the recommendations contained in paragraph 45 of the Third Lytton Report and the arrangements made in Treasury letter of 27th August to the Association of Ex-Service Civil Servants concerning the mariner in which technical vacancies are to be filled under that paragraph of the Lytton Report; whether a vacancy at present exists for an established higher grade technical assistant in the engineering division; and, if so, whether a selection for this post will be made from among the existing ex-service officers who are regarded by experience and qualification as in all respects eligible for appointment to such post?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Lieut.-Colonel Sir Vivian Henderson)The post in question was filled in the ordinary course of promotion by the selection of the most competent of all the officers serving in the lower grade. Paragraph 45 of the Third Lytton Report, and the letter mentioned, regulate the procedure to be followed in dealing with vacancies which in the normal course would be filled by outside candidates, and cannot be held to apply to vacancies which are normally filled by promotion: the existing vacancy will filled in accordance with the usual Promotion Board machinery.
§ 33. Mr. STEPHENasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First 2602 Commissioner of Works, if he is aware that a number of men employed by his Department in Glasgow were dismissed last summer; that many of these men have long years of service; and will he take steps to have them reinstated?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONI am not aware of the dismissal of any men employed by the Department in Glasgow last summer, hut if the hon. Member will forward particulars I will cause inquiries to be made.