§ 62. Mr. Pethick-Lawrenceasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether it is proposed to postpone the Civil Service examinations indefinitely; how he proposes to recruit the service while they are in abeyance; and what openings are available for those who had spent time and money in preparing them selves as candidates?
§ Captain CrookshankAs the reply is long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ I am afraid that I see no prospect of holding competitive examinations for entry to the Civil Service while war conditions continue. There are practical difficulties about holding such examinations in war-time and the age limits for a number of Civil Service examinations overlap the age limits for military service. We do not wish to do anything which might penalise men serving with the Forces. While examinations are in abeyance, various measures of filling vacancies are being adopted. Officers are already being transferred from Departments in which staff reductions are possible under war conditions and offers of temporary 1814 re-employment are being made to a number of retired civil servants. In addition, it will be necessary, as during the last war, to have recourse to the employment of temporary staff. So far as administrative, scientific and specialist staff generally are concerned, a Central Register was established by the Ministry of Labour some months ago, and this will be drawn upon by the various Department's as required. Recruitment of temporary clerical and typing staffs will be effected through the machinery of Employment Exchanges. With regard to the final part of the question, I sympathise with the disappointment experienced by prospective candidates who have spent time and money in preparing for examinations, but I am afraid that suspension of examinations is inevitable.