Mr. MONTAGUE BARLOWasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there are thirty unattached surveyors of Customs and Excise of Excise origin; whether they are all senior in the super- 2235W vising grade to any other unattached surveyors; whether they are qualified to be permanently appointed to the charge of vacant Excise districts; and whether it is intended to carry out the proposals of the chairman of the Board of Customs and Excise made to the Hobhouse Committee that unattached surveyors should be appointed to permanent surveyorships in the order of their seniority in the grade?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThere are thirty unattached surveyors of Excise origin who, during the transitional stages of amalgamation, have been placed in the new surveyor grade at an earlier date than other unattached surveyors. No statement can be made as to their qualifications for permanent appointment to districts, or as to the order in which such appointments will be made, but the hon. Member will see from my answer to the very similar question asked by him on the 30th ultimo that such appointments are only made by the Board of Customs and Excise after full consideration of all the circumstances of each case.