§ MR. JENNINGS (Stockport)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, On what date four of the "redundant" clerks in the Central Office of the Supreme Court resigned; what was the amount of their salaries; and what is the amount of the pension, bonus, or compensation allowance awarded to them; and, whether the 16 Masters of the Supreme Court, entered in the Estimates for £24,000, or £1,500 a-year each, have been in regular attendance throughout the past 824 12 months during the usual office hours?
§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)asked, whether it was a fact that these four redundant clerks, who had never been near the offices for seven years, had continued to receive during that time their annual, or triennial increase of salary, just as if they had been occupied?
§ THE SECRETARY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)I cannot answer the Question, as I do not know the position of the clerks. I will, however, obtain the information. With regard to the first Question, I am informed that of the redundant clerks mentioned, one retired on the 4th and the other three on the 23rd of October. Their pensions will be calculated as soon as they have furnished the requisite particulars of age, service, &c. As regards the regular attendance of the Masters—the number being 15, not 16, as stated—I am informed that the system recommended in the Report of the Committee of 1887—namely, a Committee of Control within the office, to be selected by the Lord Chief Justice—has been in operation since the beginning of the year; that a detailed Report on the working of the system will be made by the Committee to the Lord Chancellor at the end of the year; and that such Report will receive his Lordship's most careful consideration.