MR. SEYMOUR FITZGERALDsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, What course the Government propose to pursue with reference to the Civil Service Superannuation Bill, the Second Reading of which was carried yesterday by so large a majority?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONSir, Her Majesty's Government felt it their duty to state to the House at considerable length the objections they felt to the Bill proposed by the noble Lord opposite (Lord Naas), considering that the effect of it would be to add a very large sum, to the annual expenditure of the country. But the House having in a very full attendance and by a very considerable majority confirmed the second reading of the Bill, of course Her Majesty's Government would not deem it respectful to the House to offer any further opposition to the progress of the measure.
§ MR. GLADSTONEIn connection with this subject I beg to ask the noble Lord at the head of the Government whether it is the intention of the Government to institute any revision of the salaries of persons holding offices in the Civil Service in connection with the removal of the deductions to which they are liable.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONThe effect of the Bill will be to add 2½ per cent in some cases, and 5 per cent in others, to those salaries; but the only revision that would naturally arise out of it would be a revision by which the salaries would be diminished in proportion to the alteration made by the Bill, which I think would hardly be consistent with the decision of Parliament.