§ Mr. FIELDasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware with reference to the promotion of Messrs Da Silva, Rule, Gill, and Dampier in the Customs Statistical Office, that Mr. Dampier, who passed over ninety men obtained ninety-ninth place at his entrance examination for assistant clerkships; that sixteen assistant clerks are at present serving in the office who obtained higher places at the same examination; and whether the high mental capacity referred to in a reply of the 25th October, 1909 referred to Mr. Dampier, and, if so, how is such capacity determined?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe facts are a stated in the first and second paragraph of the question. Mr. Dampier's qualifications for promotion were, as I informed the hon. Member on 4th November last gauged by his official superiors, who have the opportunity of judging his genera intelligence.