HC Deb 06 November 1929 vol 231 cc1077-8W
Mr. BOWEN

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there is discontent among the staff at Aberdeen on account of the appointment to an overseership of an officer fourteenth on the acting list; that many of the 33 officers passed over held technical and departmental certificates, and had performed acting duties with full satisfaction; and that competent officers holding certificates have been removed from the acting list; and whether he will have inquiry made into the reasons for the appointment over the heads of senior officers on the acting list and for the exclusions from the current list?

Mr. LEES-SMITH

The officer whose appointment is referred to was third, not fourteenth, on the Acting List. It is not the case that many officers senior to him had performed acting duties with full satisfaction. Four senior officers have been tried on higher duties and failed to give satisfaction and were in consequence removed from the Acting List; and I am satisfied that the officer promoted possessed superior qualifications to the two remaining officers on the Acting List senior to himself.