§ Mr. DUNCANasked the Prime Minister whether it is the policy of the present Government not to utilise open competitive examinations for entrance to the Civil Service; at what date competitive examinations were terminated; and whether it is proposed to re-establish them at an early date?
§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERThe Government has in no sense abandoned the principle of open competition, but in accordance with its settled policy and with the often-expressed wishes of all sections of public opinion, open competition is to a large extent temporarily superseded by arrangements designed to give the utmost preference possible to ex-service men. Open competitions for women candidates have never been entirely suspended, though in certain cases they have been temporarily susperseded by competitions limited to women who have rendered approved temporary service, and the opportunities for new entrants have been necessarily restricted by the preference given to ex-service men. Open competitions for male candidates have, with few exceptions, been in suspense since the early days of the War, and I am unable to say when they will be generally resumed.