§ MR. BURT (Morpeth)asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, If he can state the reason for the extraordinary delay in issuing the Return relating to the Admiralty (Accountant General's Department), which was ordered on the 4th March last; and, when the paper is likely to be laid upon the Table of the House?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)(who replied) said: The Return is in the hands of the printer, and will be presented at the beginning of next week. The delay was caused by the extraordinary nature of the Return, for the Accountant General informs me that the additional work thrown on the branch of the Department caused by the preparation of a Return of this magnitude can hardly be over-estimated. It was necessary to abstract from the salary registers for 33 years the amounts actually paid to each individual of the Accountant General's Department, as well as every increase or decrease in number of salaries, and the authorities for the changes. Notwithstanding the time, trouble, and money spent on this Return, I fear it will be of no public utility.