HC Deb 24 August 1881 vol 265 cc824-5

Considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Motion made, and Question proposed, That it is expedient to authorise the payment, out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom, of the Salary and Pension of any additional Judge who may be appointed, under the provisions of any Act of the present Session to amend the Supreme Court of Judicature Acts; and the payment, out of moneys to be provided by Parliament, of the Expenses incurred by the appointment of persons to keep order in the Royal Courts of Justice."—(Mr. Attorney General.)

GENERAL SIR GEORGE BALFOUR

complained that new offices in the many Law Courts were constantly being created and old ones abolished, which involved a very heavy charge upon the country for pensions, for the abolished officers and salaries for the new officers. He thought it was a perfect scandal that in England gentlemen, perfectly able and qualified to do the State good service, should be sent adrift in consequence of the abolition of their offices, and granted pensions and compensation allowances, instead of being retained in employment of some kind or other. He would, therefore, ask the hon. and learned Gentleman the Attorney General whether it was not possible to take steps in certain cases in which it was proposed to abolish offices for preventing pensions being paid to gentlemen who were well qualified by age and ability to continue in the employment of the State?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)

said, he would gladly answer the question of his hon. and gallant Friend (Sir George Balfour), if he could; but he did not know what the cases were to which his hon. and gallant Friend referred. He was totally ignorant of any case to which the observations of his hon. and gallant Friend would apply.

GENERAL SIR GEORGE BALFOUR

said, he was glad to hear that his hon. and learned Friend was ignorant of the cases to which he referred; but it was, nevertheless, the fact that certain offices had recently been created, and that it was now proposed to abolish them or old offices, and provide the officers whose services were dispensed with with pensions.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolution to be reported To-morrow.