§ Sir JOHN BARRANasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in reference to the paper recently issued by the Civil Service Commissioners laying down the conditions of the next examination for the Excise Department, his attention has been drawn to the hardship which will be involved in making those candidates who will try for the last time take up a foreign language at a few months' notice; and whether, in justice to such candidates, it can foe arranged that the old programme, which has hitherto been thought adequate, shall remain in force until after the approaching examination?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe Civil Service Commissioners inform me that the new scheme for officers of Customs and Excise does not force any candidate to take up a foreign language. Candidates have for some time been aware that changes were in contemplation, and the changes affect all candidates equally.