§ MR. PAUL (Edinburgh, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the average yearly salary of a Government messenger in Edinburgh is about £20 less than the salary of a Government messenger in London; whether this difference is warranted by the difference in the cost of living, if any: whether an increase in the Edinburgh salaries was recommended by Lord Lothian to the Treasury in 1889, but not granted; and whether the Government will carry out Lord Lothian's recommendation?
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir G. TREVELYAN,) Glasgow, BridgetonI am aware that the average salary of a Government messenger in Edinburgh is less than that of a Government messenger in Loudon. Recommendations of a general nature were not made to the Treasury on the subject by my predecessor, but recommendations were from time to time made by his Lordship, and have also been made by me in regard to special cases, all of which have been favourably dealt with 1526 by the Treasury. The general question of messengers' salaries is, I understand, still under the consideration of a Departmental Committee appointed by the Treasury, and the consideration of some cases are awaiting the issue of this Committee.