asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the number of appointments made to the clerical officer grade of the Civil Service in 1936 as a result of examinations limited to writing assistants and shorthand-typists and the number appointed by open competition; whether it is the policy of his Department to preserve a certain proportion between the number of appointments made by limited examination and the number by open competition and what the proportion is; also if, having regard to the fact that no opportunity of promotion by way of limited competition was afforded the above-mentioned grades in 1936 he will compensate the officers concerned by extending the list of appointments from the 1935 examination to include all those who qualified.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clerical Officer Appointments in 1936.
Since the 1st January, 1936, 27 candidates have been appointed clerical officers (general service) as a result of competition limited to writing assistants and shorthand-typists, and 159 as a result of open competition. No fixed proportion of available vacancies is reserved for candidates in limited competitions. The number of places filled from that source has to be determined by the varying needs of the Service from year to year. The arrangement by which opportunity is afforded to lower grades, by means of competitions confined to their own members to enter higher grades for which open competition is the normal method of recruitment is subject to the requirements of the Service from year to year. A further limited competition for the classes referred to in the question has been arranged to take place next January. In the circumstances it is not proposed to appoint any further candidates from the 1935 limited examination.
Can the Minister say how many vacancies will be offered?
I am not in a position to say that.
Will the Minister bear in mind the desirability of opening up further avenues of promotion for those already in the Service, having regard to the stagnation that exists, particularly in the grades in question?
I have to take into account primarily those outside the Service waiting to get in.
Surely if there are increased openings for people already in the Service, that will cause vacancies for those outside it, about whom the Minister seems to be more concerned than those already in the Service.