HC Deb 13 December 1830 vol 1 cc1066-7

On the Motion that the House resolve itself into a Committee of Supply,

Mr. Kennedy

begged to call the attention of the House to a circumstance in which the right hon. the member for Edinburgh was concerned. That right hon. Gentleman had promised to be present when this subject was brought forward, but, as he was not in attendance, he (Mr. Kennedy) felt it his duty to lay the matter before the House. He held in his hand a paper, which had been laid on the Table of that House, and from which it appeared that the right hon. Gentleman of whom he had spoken held the office of Lord Clerk Registrar, and that of Keeper of the Signet, with a salary of 3,300l. attached. But it did not appear from that paper that he held another office, and that he derived from the place of Registrar of Sasines 3,000l. a year, so that altogether he had an income of 6,300l. a year. Now, if this flagrant error appeared in one item, what was to be thought of the general accuracy of the paper? He had been placed on the Committee for inquiring into the salaries enjoyed by Members of that House, and undoubtedly he should be prepared to do his duty on it, but he must say, he did not think that any effectual saving could be made in the department to which the examinations of that Committee were to be directed— namely, in the efficient branches of the public service. It was to the inefficient and sinecure branches that they must look for real beneficial economy. He wished to know how this very striking error had occurred. The paper to which he alluded ought to be amended, and referred to a Committee of that House to investigate its details. The country was certainly entitled to an abridgment of those salaries for which no service was done.

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