asked the Secretary to the Treasury why vacancies for women clerks in the Customs and Excise Department in Ireland should not be filled by an open competitive examination held by the Civil Service Commissioners; and will he explain who has at present the final selection of candidates for the vacancies?

As I informed the hon. Member on the 13th instant, the appointments in question are purely temporary. No prospect of permanent employment, or even of continuous temporary employment, is offered, and they are, therefore, not suitable for open competition. Candidates are selected by the local collectors of Customs and Excise from applicants sent to them by the local Employment Exchanges.