§ Mr. NIELDasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the reason for not holding the usual summer examination for junior appointments in the Civil Service, and whether, considering the notice which has been given of the cessation and the narrow limits of age for the competition, candidates who would have been eligible for such examination will be admitted to the next examination to be held for these appointments in the same manner as candidates who would have been eligible for an examination for appointment in the Indian Medical Service if held in January last are to be admitted to the forthcoming examination for such appointments?
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§ Mr. ACLANDThe reason for not holding the usual summer examination for junior appointments this year is that the Departments concerned are able to make provision for carrying out the work of this class of clerks without the service of new entrants. The point raised in the latter part of the question is receiving consideration.
§ Mr. NIELDalso asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider the desirability of allowing young men who join His Majesty's forces a further period of one year on the conclusion of service before being compelled to present themselves for competition for Civil Service appointments, seeing that they will have lost ground during their absence; whether the age limit for such candidates will be extended accordingly or, alternatively, whether they will be given suitable service marks; and will he say if there is any suggestion of general change in the normal course of Civil Service competitions, or is the present cessation governed solely by departmental requirements?
§ Mr. ACLANDAs regards the first and second parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for East Edinburgh on the 4th February last. As regards the third part, any cessation of competitions has been and will be governed solely by the conditions of the present time.