asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will undertake that the statement personally handed by him to the representatives of the Customs and Excise staff on 3rd May, 1912, shall be strictly adhered to by the Board of Customs and Excise in respect of the assurance that promotions from the officer grade by competitive examinations will not be commenced until forty-two upper section clerks have been promoted?

I do not think it necessary to give any undertaking that a definite statement made by me as to the course to be followed by a Department under my control will be duly carried out.