§ SIR HENRY WOLFFasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Heads of Departments in the Foreign Office are paid on a lower scale than gentlemen holding similar appointments in other Government Offices of equal rank; and, if so, whether Her Majesty's Government is prepared to improve the position of these public servants?
§ MR. BOURKEIt is impossible to make a comparison which shall be exactly accurate between the rates of salary in various offices. The number of clerks in each class varies, the promotion is consequently more rapid in some offices than in others, and the duties assigned to each grade do not in all cases exactly correspond. Taking the Secretaries of States' offices, the salaries of heads of departments in the Foreign Office are exactly the same as in the Home Office, slightly higher than in the War Office, and slightly lower than in the Colonial Office, where there are only three gentlemen holding that grade. The India Office is differently organized, and an accurate comparison is impossible. On the whole, my noble Friend (Lord Derby) does not see any reason to propose to the Treasury an increase of salary, of the heads of Departments, while bearing-willing testimony to the zeal, efficiency, and ability with which the officers of the Foreign Office discharge their duties.