§ MR. VANCEsaid, he wished to ask the Attorney General if he can state to the House what will be the increased charge on the Consolidated Fund by the operation of the new Bankruptcy Bill?
THE ATTORNEY GENERALSir, the charge to be transferred to the Consolidated Fund appears by the last Return, ending 31st of December, 1859, to be in the aggregate, £20,227. That is a charge for compensations and retiring annuities which, of course, will diminish almost daily, seeing that the greater number of them had been granted so long ago as 1832. I think one gentleman, possessed of the large sinecure of nearly £8,000 a year, has been in the enjoyment of it for thirty years. In all probability therefore I that charge will be greatly reduced before the 11th of October, 1860, the day when the Bill proposes to come into operation. But then I do not in the smallest degree consider that there is any engagement on the part of the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the payment of compensations and retiring annuities should be a permanent charge on the Consolidated Fund. I expect, if the Bill answers its purpose, that there will be a very large surplus revenue from the income of the Bankruptcy Court. I have provided by the Bill that a very accurate Return shall be 1495 made, and therefore as soon as the Bankruptcy Fund is able to bear the expense, this charge may be transferred from the Consolidatad Fund, provided the Bankruptcy Fund can bear it consistently with the reduction of the fees. Beyond that Bam the Bill proposes to charge the Consolidated Fund with the salary of the Judge and Secretary, and that I expect to be a permanent charge upon it. The compensations of the released Commissioners will be paid, as their salaries now are, out of the Fees of the Court.