§ Mr. MOSLEYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will 2100W make inquiries into the case of Miss M. E. Robinson, who served five years on the temporary staff of the Civil Service (Accountant General's Department, General Post Office), and having passed an examination for a permanent post has been refused an appointment on the ground of defective eyesight; whether, in spite of the defect, Miss Robinson has discharged her duties efficiently during the five years she has been in the Civil Service; and whether he has received the copy of a certificate from an eminent eye specialist that the defect is non-progressive?
Lieut.-Commander YOUNGUnder the Order in Council of the 10th January, 1910, the Civil Service Commissioners have to be satisfied, before a candidate can be appointed to a permanent post, that she possesses the necessary qualifications in respect of health. The Commissioners inform me that they were aware of Miss Robinson's previous satisfactory temporary service, and of the certificate obtained by her from an oculist. The decision of the Commissioners was arrived at after consulting their own referee in opthalmic cases, on whose report they were unable to pronounce themselves satisfied as to Miss Robinson's eyesight.