§ 11. Colonel GOODMANasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that chief and principal officers in the prison service are debarred from consideration in the scheme for promoting officers to the higher ranks in conse 1994 quence of the age limit of 40 years; and why these specially selected officers of the senior ranks have been ignored?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAs I have previously explained, chief and principal officers are not debarred from consideration for promotion to superior grades and their claims are always considered when promotions are made. The purpose of the scheme is not to limit the possibilities of promotion for any officer, but to try whether in the future those possibilities can be increased by giving younger officers who appear to haxe exceptional ability a better opportunity of demonstrating and developing that ability in the early stages of their career.
§ Colonel GOODMANIs it not a fact that promotion of the junior officers debars the senior officers of the opportunity they might otherwise have?
§ Sir J. GILMOURIn all these things we require efficiency.