Mr. HASTINGSasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that certain of the successful candidates in the open competitions for clerkships, Class I, in the Civil Service, were offered by the Civil Service Commission and accepted appointments as assistant surveyors in the General Post Office. on Ole understanding that such appointments ranked as Class I clerkships; that these officers were informed by the late Postmaster-General that the appointments they accepted are not, and never have been, regarded as Class I clerkships, and that, in consequence, they are debarred from the benefits received by other higher division officers under the recent reorganisation of the Civil Service; and whether he will take steps to prevent these officers being prejudiced owing to the circumstances in which their acceptance of those appointments was secured?
§ Mr. HARTSHORNMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The officers referred to have received the pay and privileges promised to them when they competed for assistant surveyorships; in fact, both their pay and prospects have been substantially improved since they entered the service.2026W The work of assistant surveyors in the Post Office does not conform to the definition of the duties of the administrative class contained in the Report of the Reorganisation Committee, and I am unable to admit that they are entitled to be regarded as administrative officers.