asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the great hardship which has been caused to parents and students by the cessation of the Civil Service examinations; and whether it is intended to resume these examinations at an early date?

I am aware that the suspension of Civil Service examinations has caused disappointment to would-be candidates and their parents; but I regret that I cannot regard the resumption of these examinations as justified in present conditions.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the normal school examinations, both the higher schools and the matriculation examinations, are being held regularly and that these involve a considerably greater number of candidates than those involved in the Civil Service examinations? Is he not aware that all the other institutions, like the Bar and the Medical Council, are holding their examinations as usual? What is the reason for differentiating between the Civil Service and these other bodies?

All I can say is that the conditions and circumstances are entirely different.

But they are not.

As I have already explained in reply to previous Questions, the matter is constantly kept under review.

Would the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say in what respect they are different? It is no use saying they are different unless the right hon. and gallant Gentleman tells us in what way they are different.

One very obvious way is, of course, the difference in age groups.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that people, or students, who have studied for the Civil Service examinations, by reason of age, after studying, cannot sit because they have passed the age group? What is he doing to meet that situation?

I should be very g fad to give an answer if I had notice, but it is not a Question on the Order Paper.