asked the Postmaster-General (1) what are the special reasons for departing from the normal procedure of promotion in the cases of the promotion at the London parcel section of an assistant superintendent, Mr. M. S. Hunter, No. 127 on the assistant superintendents' seniority list, to the position of superintendent, higher grade, thereby passing over the intervening grade of 60 superintendents and also of a junior overseer, Mr. E. J. C. Phillips, No. 811 on the overseers' seniority list, to the position of superintendent, thereby passing over the intervening grade of 184 assistant superintendents in addition to over 800 overseers who are his seniors;(2) in view of the fact that the terms of the agreed report on promotion out-lines the procedure to be followed in the case of all promotions and was signed by his representatives in addition to those of the staff, what steps he intends to take to ensure that its provisions are carried into effect and that 14 days' notice of vacancies are given to enable representations to be made concerning the respective appointmnts; and why such procedure was not followed in connection with the recent promotions in the London parcel section of Messrs. M. S. Hunter and E. J. C. Phillips;(3) whether he is aware that, in connection with the recent promotion to superintendents in the London parcel section of Messrs. M. S. Hunter and E. J. C. Phillips, the terms of the agreed report on promotion in the London postal service have been ignored by failure to notify the staff associations of the intention to fill the vacancy for superintendent, in accordance with paragraphs 7 and 12 of the promotion report, which provide that promotion lists, common to the whole of the London Postal service of officers from whom the selection for promotion will ordinarily be made, shall be kept by the central board, and that notification of vacancies which it is proposed to fill will be made to the staff in the same way as notification of revisions of the promotion list, 14 days' notice to be given?

For the successful discharge of the duties of the vacant post for superintendent, higher grade, in the London parcel section it was essential that the officer promoted should be well acquainted with the requirements of that section, and should possess qualities of an outstanding character. It was desirable also that his age should permit of his performing the duties for a reasonable period before retirement. No superintendent satisfied these requirements, and it was necessary therefore to select an officer in the assistant superintendents' grade. The vacant post in the parcel section to which Mr. Phillips was promoted had been upgraded from an assistant superintendentship to a superintendentship. The work is of a specialised character and requires a thorough working knowledge of parcel traffic conditions together with good organising ability. No officer on the assistant superintendents' grade had the necessary qualifications for the post, and in the interests of efficiency it was necessary to select for promotion an overseer who possessed exceptional qualifications for it. Although the usual notice of vacancy was given in the case of the superintendentship higher grade, it was subsequently found necessary to make both promotions under paragraph 18 of the relative promotion report which provides that the Postmaster-General retains the right to make a promotion without following the usual procedure in any exceptional case in which the public interest makes it necessary.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, with the exception of those at the head post office, telephone kiosks in the borough of Gillingham, Kent, are not open to the public on Sundays and such times during week-days that sub-post offices are closed; and whether, having regard to the large population of Gillingham, he will consider the desirability of providing additional telephone kiosks to be open day and night there?

I am inquiring into the facts, and will consider whether there is any case for action in the direction suggested.

asked the Minister of Labour why he has created a joint panel for a review of ex-Service S-class clerks and female staff of that Department for promotion to the established clerical classes, also why he has decided to allot the promotions in proportion to the numbers in each of the grades concerned formed by the panel to be qualified for promotion; will he state the reason for the apparent departure for the policy of preference for ex-Service men serving in the S-class as often expressed; and will he give instructions that the ex-Service men who have considerable previous experience shall have definite preference for the posts in those classes which are about to be filled?

S-class clerks, writing assistants and members of the typing grades are all eligible for promotion to the clerical classes and a panel of the promotions board is reviewing the qualifications for promotion of members of all these classes. Promotions will be allotted as described by my hon. Friend in pursuance of an agreement reached between the two sides of the Departmental Whitley Council. This involves no departure from the Government's policy of preference for ex-Service men in the matter of employment in the Civil Service, and I am satisfied that the course which I have adopted in the present instance is reasonable.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many vacancies for executive officers have been filled since 26th July last, respectively, by the transfer of such officers from other Departments, by promotion from the clerical grade, by recruitment after examination, or by the transfer within the Departments concerned of clerical officers (with allowances) formerly of P-class (salaried officer) status to posts vacated by executive officers, indicating in which Departments the vacancies have arisen, and by which method each Department concerned has filled such vacancies?

As regards the first and third parts of the question, the information desired is as follows :

Vacancies in the General Executive Class filled since 26th July, 1933.
Department.	By open competition.	By transfer from other Departments.
Customs and Excise	45	6
Education, Board of	—	1
Inland Revenue Department	15	8
Labour, Ministry of	4	—
National Debt Office	2	—
Post Office	17	—
Principal Probate Registry	—	1
Public Trustee Office	5	—
Scottish Education Department.	—	1
War Office	4	—
	92	17

As regards the second part of the question, information regarding promotion from the clerical to the general executive officer grade is based on returns rendered by Departments for complete financial years. Particulars in respect of the financial year ended 31st March, 1934, are not yet available.As regards the fourth part of the question, eight clerical officers (with allowances as ex "P" class salaried officers) have been employed in the Ministry of Pensions in posts vacated by executive officers.