§ Mr. T. M. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary if the two chief inspectors of national schools are entitled to refuse to recommend the annual salary increments of any of the 60 or so subordinate inspectors without assigning any reason whatever for such action; if he is aware that there have been some cases of this kind within the past few years, and that aggrieved inspectors can get neither explanation nor redress; if he will state why 1821W the Commissioners do not furnish the subordinate inspectors in question with definite and detailed information, by way of circular or otherwise, as to this unlimited authority with regard to increments, etc., allowed the two chiefs referred to; and whether, as inspectors are prohibited from communicating directly with any of the 20 Commissioners, and the higher officials (including the two chiefs) refuse to allow complaints reflecting on themselves to go before the Board, he will say how aggrieved inspectors can obtain redress of their grievances?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs I informed the hon. Member in reply to the question asked by him on 2nd April last, a chief inspector who refuses to certify that the conduct of an inspector has been approved, so as to entitle him to an increment of salary, must satisfy the Commissioners of National Education that he has good grounds for his refusal. I understand that certificates have been refused or deferred in some cases in recent years owing to unsatisfactory discharge of duty on the part of individual inspectors, but there is only one such case at present. I am further informed that the chief inspectors have no greater power in the matter than is exercised throughout the Civil Service by the immediate superiors of officers entitled to increments of salary. The provisions of the Order in Council of 28th November, 1898, on the subject require no explanation. I have already stated in answer to the hon. Member's previous question that all complaints of inspectors are submitted to the Board or to the Resident Commissioner.