§ 4. Mr. BURNETTasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether in making appointments to the post of collector of statistics the Fishery Board of Scotland will ascertain, by competitive examination or otherwise, the practical knowledge of the candidates?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Skelton)Yes, Sir. My hon. Friend may rest assured that, by whatever method a selection is made from the candidates for these posts, full weight will be given to their practical knowledge as well as to other qualifications.
§ 5. Mr. BURNETTasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications were lodged in response to the recent advertising of a vacancy for a collector of statistics in Aberdeen fish market; and how many of the candidates had a special knowledge of the fish trade?
§ Mr. SKELTONForty-eight applications for the post of collector of statistics at Aberdeen under the Fishery Board for Scotland were received from candidates within the required limits of age. Eighteen candidates had previous experience in the fishing industry in some capacity.
§ Mr. BURNETTHad the successful candidate technical knowledge?
§ Mr. SKELTONI do not think the successful candidate had any special technical knowledge of the fishing industry, but the selection was made by the selection board, which, as the hon. Member knows, is composed partly from the Civil Service Commissioners, and partly from the Department concerned; and, taking all the considerations into account, he was regarded as the most suitable for the post.
§ Mr. MAXTONWho was he?