HC Deb 08 June 1860 vol 159 cc191-2
VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

I shall at the same time take advantage of being on my legs to answer a Question of which notice has been given by the hon. Member for Devizes, to whom I must apologize for not having been here five minutes sooner that he might put it. It stands upon the Notice Paper, and, therefore, he will allow me perhaps to answer it, and thus save him the trouble of putting it. The hon. Member wishes to know whether the salary of £2,500 a year which was received by the First Clerk of Council, who has now retired, has been abolished, and whether the Clerk of Council who is to succeed, and has, I believe, succeeded Mr. Bathurst, is to receive the higher rate of £2,500, or the rate of £1,200 which was received by Mr. Bathurst. The state of the case enables me to answer affirmatively the question of the hon. Gentleman. The salary of £2,500 was abolished at the time Mr. Greville retired. Mr. Bathurst, when he was Clerk of the Council, received the salary of £1,200, and that is the amount of salary which will be received by Mr. Helps, who was appointed in his place. With regard to the allowance to Mr. Bathurst, its amount has not, I believe, been fixed. It will be awarded in conformity with the Superannuation Act, under the provisions of which he is about to retire.