§ Sir W. de FRECEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that, although writing assistants in his Department are employed on some of the best duties allocated to writing assistants in the Civil Service, the percentage of promotion to the clerical class of members of this grade in his Department compares very unfavourably with the percentage of promotions elsewhere; and whether, as a number of clerical vacancies exist at the moment, he will consider the claims of writing assistants to pro-
2550Wwho have given good service to the Department?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINNo members of the shorthand and typing staff of my Department have been discharged, in recent years, owing to reduction of staff. In filling vacancies from time to time among the temporary staff ex-employés of the Department are given preference subject to efficiency and to their eligibility to sit for the Sivil Service examination for appointment to the permanent establishment.