§ MR. HOPWOOD (for Mr. TORRENS)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, What steps have been taken to fill up the office of Queen's Proctor, and whether in future the person discharging the duties of such office will be paid by salary and not by fees?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHSir, the office of Queen's Proctor, rendered vacant by the sudden death of Mr. Hart Dyke, has been filled by the appointment of Mr. A. K. Stephenson, the Solicitor of the Treasury, under a Royal Warrant of 2nd August, in the terms of that by which the late Queen's Proctor was appointed. This appointment has been made ad interim, in order to allow time for considering the arrangements to be made for the future conduct of the office. A Committee of Inquiry has recently reported—"That it will not be desirable on the occurrence of a vacancy to appoint another Queen's Proctor as a separate officer"—and has proposed that the business should be transferred to the Depart- 1076 ment of the Solicitor of the Treasury. The Solicitor of the Treasury has therefore undertaken the duties of Queen's Proctor under the Royal Warrant for the next six months, or longer, if necessary, at the expiration of which time it is hoped that it will be practicable to make permanent arrangements for the future conduct of the business by the same or a different officer, as may be found to be most advantageous for the public service. In the meantime, the Treasury Solicitor will receive the fees hitherto received by the Queen's Proctor, and will account for the same to the Treasury. No determination can yet be come to as to whether the duties of the office will in future be paid by salary or by fees.