§ Major COATESasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the reason why assistant clerks of the new class in the Long Room of His Majesty's Customs, London, are given preference for promotion to the next higher class, namely, lower section clerkships, over the senior abstractors serving in the same Department; and whether, in view of the fact that the senior abstractors are employed on the more responsible seats, he will see that in any future promotions due regard will be given to their longer service and departmental experience?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI beg to refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for the St. Patrick's Division of Dublin on 31st March last to an almost precisely similar question.