§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether his attention has been called to 1527 the fact that, since 1884, clerks, messengers, &c, ranging from the age of 39 to 67, in the Bankruptcy Department of the, Board of Trade, have been granted yearly allowances, amounting in the aggregate to £3,135 17s. 3d., on abolition of their offices; and, whether it would be possible to relieve the Treasury of a portion of this charge by appointing some of these gentlemen to other Departments as offices fall vacant?
§ THE SECRETARY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)I believe that the hon. Member has stated with tolerable accuracy the charge for pensions granted since 1884 to officers of the Bankruptcy Department. I doubt whether it is possible with advantage to relieve the Treasury of any portion of the charge for these gentlemen; but I quite sympathize with what I take to be the hon. Member's view—namely, that before sanctioning retirement on full pension from any Department, except for ago or ill-health, careful consideration should be given to ascertain whether work could not be found in other Departments in all cases where the power of transfer exists.