MR. BRYN ROBERTSI beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Trade, what is the total number of times the Official Receiver for North Wales and Chester has attended personally at the Bankruptcy Courts at Bangor, Portmadoc, and Festiniog on public examinations of bankrupts, examinations under Section 27 of the Bankruptcy Act, and on motions by or against the Official Receiver, and what is the total number of similar attendances by the deputy Official Receiver; is he aware that the Official Receiver carries on business for his own benefit as solicitor at Wrexham, while the deputy Official Receiver is practically discharging all the duties of the Official Receiver in the districts of Bangor, Portmadoc, and Festiniog; what is the salary of the Official Receiver; and what is the salary of the deputy, and by whom is it paid?
§ Mr. BRYCESince the 1st Jan, 1894, the Official Receiver for North Wales and Chester has made 11 personal attendances at the Courts mentioned, and 790 the Assistant Official Receiver has made 55 attendances. The Official Receiver, like most of his colleagues in the provinces, is not a salaried officer. He is allowed to engage in private practice (not connected with bankruptcy or insolvency) and is paid a fee for each Receiving Order. The average gross remuneration earned by him during the last three years is about £1,000 per annum, out of which he has to pay the salary of the Assistant Official Receiver, clerks' wages, office rent. &c. The salary of the Assistant Official Receiver is a matter of private arrangement with his employer.