§ Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked the President of the Board of Education if he will state the professional or other peculiar qualifications of each of the thirty-seven 2217W junior examiners appointed to the Board during the last five years?
§ Mr. J. A. PEASEIt is not possible within the limits of an answer to a question to state the various qualifications of thirty-seven examiners. I shall, however, be glad to place before the Royal Commission, appointed recently to inquire into the conditions of appointment and promotion in the Civil Service, all the facts in my possession in reference to these thirty-seven examiners and all other officials in my Department.
§ Mr. C. DUNCANasked the President of the Board of Education, with reference to the recent appointment of the chief inspector of public elementary schools to the post of accountant-general to the Board, if he will state in what respects the duties of the accountant-general and those of the chief inspector of elementary schools are similar; whether it may be understood that the qualifications necessary for the proper discharge of the duties of chief inspector of public elementary schools are such as are also necessary for the efficient performance of the functions of accountant-general to the Board; and, if so, why in the past it has not been the practice to appoint as accountant-general persons who have had experience as chief inspector of public elementary schools?
§ Mr. PEASEThe duties of the two posts are quite distinct, although experience in the one may be of value in the other. The answer to the second question is in the negative, and therefore the third does not arise. May I add that I have no doubt that in the past as at present officers were selected for these posts in view of their fitness to hold them, and in order that the best distribution of the staff available for the whole work of the office might be secured.