§ Mr. Montagueasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that a recent candidate for the prison service, F.H.L., of Barnsbury, London, N., who passed a strict medical examination and other scrutinies as to character, was failed at an interview by an assistant commissioner because he failed to reMember with absolute certainty the number of halls in Leeds prison through which he passed only about once; and whether, seeing that in view of the prospect of joining the prison service the candidate gave up a good position he had held for 10 years and is now unemployed, his application can be reconsidered?
§ Mr. LloydThe suggestion that this candidate was rejected merely because he failed to answer a particular question is mistaken. The decision was reached on a review of his qualifications as a whole, after he had been under instruction for some four weeks, and after full consideration of reports by the Governor and of others responsible for the instruction of probationers. Like all other candidates who are accepted for training, he was warned beforehand that his engagement was provisional only in the first instance and30W might be terminated at any time during the training course if he were found to be unsuitable. My right hon. Friend regrets that the question of his engagement cannot be re-opened. In the selection of candidates for training every effort is, of course, made to choose only men who appear likely to make good officers, but some men who make a good impression at the original interview are found after a period of trial not to be suitable for the duties.