LORD HENRY LENNOXsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether the re-organization of the Secretary's Office and other Departments of the Admiralty have been completed; if so, what is the result of such changes; whether the reductions have been effected by the voluntary retirement of Clerks; and, whether the Report of the Committee and the Correspondence relating to these reductions will be produced?
§ MR. CHILDERSSir, the re-organization of the departments of the Admiralty in London is not completed. It is proceeding steadily, but not with undue haste, in order that it may be as complete as possible, and that personal interests may be fully considered. The department of the Controller of the Navy, the Store Branch, the Contract Branch, the Medical Office, and the Coastguard Office may be considered as finally dealt with. The new arrangements of the Accountant General's Office are under consideration of the Treasury. Those of the former establishment of the Secretary are nearly complete, but will not be finally settled until the new permanent Secretary has had time to consider them. The establishment of the Victualling Office is now being re-arranged. That of the Transport Office has not yet been taken in hand. Up to the present time fifty-two clerks in these offices have been discharged, or decided to be discharged, whose salaries were £20,250. Of these, forty have actually left. This reduction has been effected with the help of the Committee, of which the Earl of Camperdown is Chairman, who first consulted the heads of departments as to the abilities of their officers—both those who applied to retire and those who did not —and then personally saw those whom it was desirable to pension off. The Committee heard and considered every representation made by these gentlemen, and the public owe much to their considerate and careful action. The result so far is that whereas the salaries of the 413 establishments in last year's Estimates were at the rate of £148,823 a year, and in this year's Estimates at £135,368, we have already reduced them to £125,644, or by £23,000. But when the other establishments are revised still greater reductions will be made, because writers will be substituted for a considerable number of clerks as vacancies occur; and, besides, other clerks than those already retired are expected to apply for retirement shortly. No clerks have been discharged against their will. In several cases there was hesitation, and some correspondence, but ultimately I believe that in every case the retirement was voluntary under the terms approved by the Treasury. I cannot give the exact financial effect yet; the pensions not being all settled, and the reductions not completed. On the whole Vote I do not think that the reduction will be less than £25,000 a year. Against this there will be the increase of superannuations to the extent of £15,000, but these of course will fall off every year. I propose to lay on the table, when the operation is complete, the Report of the Committee and all the correspondence between the departments of the Admiralty and with the Treasury as to this and as to other reductions, and I hope before the end of the Session to have an opportunity of giving the result of other economical arrangements as to contracts and stores. I may add that we have commenced further reductions in the establishments of clerks and civil officers at the dockyards. Twelve have been already reduced, all at their own request, but the inquiry as to the future strength cannot be fully made until the autumn.
LORD HENRY LENNOXsaid, he would beg to thank the right hon. Gentleman for his answer; and to ask whether he will engage that the case of those gentlemen whose interests have suffered and are suffering from the delay which has occurred in the organization of the office will be taken into consideration by the right hon. Gentleman when the organization has been completed?
§ MR. CHILDERSI am not aware that anyone's interest has suffered from delay; but, on the contrary, I have always been apprehensive that some might suffer from haste. However, I will undertake to say that any case where personal interests have suffered shall have my best attention on its being brought to my knowledge.