EARL of RONALDSHAYasked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether Customs assistants attaining to the scale of second-class examining officer qualify for the title of second-class examining officer upon the occurrence of vacancies in that grade; whether a number of vacancies now exist in the grade of second-class examining officer; whether a number of assistants have attained to the scale of that grade without having been promoted to the vacancies; and whether, in view of the fact that the assistants are losing privileges of leave and overtime, he will remove this alleged prievance?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe answers to the first and third questions are in the affirmative. As regards the second and fourth questions there are now four vacancies of examining officer, second-class, which will be filled as rapidly as circumstances permit.
EARL of RONALDSHAYasked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether the transfer of Excise officials to the Customs, at different times in 1909, had the effect of delaying the promotion of a number of Customs assistants, with consequent permanent monetary loss, whether the transfer of Customs assistants to the Excise in 1910 has rendered possible the rapid promotion of Excise assistants with consequent monetary gain; and (2) whether, in view of the rapid promotion of Excise assistants to second-class officers, and the delay in the promotion of Customs assistants to second-class examining officers, and the advantage to Excise assistants thus indicated, he will give an assurance that this different treatment of the two grades by the Board of Customs and Excise will not be allowed to prejudice the prospects of the assistants of Customs?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe Noble Lord will find a full and reasoned answer to these points in a reply given to the Member for Barrow on July 11th, 1910.