HC Deb 25 January 1940 vol 356 c794W
Mr. Henderson Stewart

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the policy of the Government regarding recruitment of junior staff for the Civil Service; whether the normal entrance examinations are to be restarted, and upon what conditions and for what subjects and types of candidates; and whether any provision is being made to enable candidates, now precluded from taking examinations, to sit for such examinations after they have passed the pre-war age limit?

Captain Crookshank

The resumption of open competitive examinations for entry into the Civil Service is not practicable or advisable in present conditions. Posts to which it is necessary to make appointments from outside the Service are being filled on a temporary basis through the machinery of the Ministry of Labour and National Service, in the case of clerical and typing grades from the employment exchanges. I regret that I can give no undertaking at present as to the regulations under which competitive entry may be resumed.