§ Sir GEORGE TOUCHEasked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division) (1) whether at each of the examinations for assistant clerkships held in July, 1915, January, 1916, and July, 1916, 100 vacancies were offered for competition; and, if so, why these vacancies have not been filled; (2) if he will state the object of declaring successful over 200 candidates at the examinations for assistant clerkships in July, 1915, January, 1916, and July, 1916, when very few appointments have been made; (3) whether many of the boy clerks who were successful at the assistant clerks examinations of July, 1915, January, 1916, and July, 1916, are still unappointed; and whether it is intended to pay these successful boy clerks at the rate of assistant clerks from a date calculated as three months from the date of the examinations at which they were successful; (4) whether candidates declared successful at Civil Service examinations have a right to expect that their appointments will follow at a reasonable interval; and, if so, whether it is proposed to recompense those boy clerks who were successful at the assistant clerks examinations of July, 1915, January, 1916, and July, 1916, for the delay in making their appointments; and (5) whether boy clerks are now employed on duties formerly assigned to assistant clerks; and, if so, why appointments to the class of assistant clerks have been so long delayed?
§ Mr. BALDWINBoy clerks are entitled, by the terms of their appointment, to compete for assistant clerkships on reaching the age of seventeen, and are discharged, if not successful at such competitions, on reaching the age of eighteen. During the War the examinations have been continued at the usual intervals, in order not to deprive the boy clerks of the opportunity to compete for eventual appointment to permanent positions in the Civil1322W Service. The notice of examination has followed the usual form in stating that not less than 100 candidates would be declared successful, if so many should be found qualified; and, in fact, all who were qualified have been declared successful. But no undertaking is given that the successful candidates will immediately receive appointments as assistant clerks, and it is provided that such candidates may continue to be employed as boy clerks until appointments are available. The Civil Service Commission cannot assign an assistant clerk to fill a vacancy until it is reported to them by the Department concerned. The War has reduced the rate at which vacancies have been notified, partly because Departments have in many cases reserved vacancies for successful candidates who are absent on military service, and partly because they are reluctant to appoint as assistant clerks boys who will very shortly be called to the Colours. The result is that about 750 boy clerks who have been declared successful at examinations for assistant clerkships held in 1915 and 1916 have not yet received appointments; but of these not less than 300 are absent on military service. The Treasury has arranged that the service of these boy clerks, on their eventual appointments as assistant clerks, shall reckon for increment from three months from the date of the examination at which they were successful, but it is not possible to give immediate appointments to the boy clerks who have qualified at recent examinations without disregarding the prior claims of those serving with the forces.
§ Mr. ALDENasked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division) (1) whether, at each of the examinations for assistant clerkships held in July, 1915, January, 1916, and July, 1916, 100 vacancies were offered for competition; and, if so, why these vacancies have not been filled; (2) if he will state the object of declaring successful over 200 at the examinations for assistant clerkships in July, 1915, January, 1916, and July, 1916, when very few appointments have been made; and (3) whether many of the boy clerks who were successful at the assistant clerks examinations of July, 1915, January, 1916, and July, 1916, are still unappointed; and whether it is intended to pay these successful boy clerks at the rate of assistant clerks from a date calculated as three months from the date of the examination at which they were successful?
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§ Mr. BALDWINI may refer to the reply which I publish to-day to the questions asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Islington N.