§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury what number of Sessional Crown Solicitors and Crown Solicitors have been abolished in Ireland since 1866, and what sum of money the Treasury have saved thereby; and what is the present yearly 1189 saving by the abolition of the Sessional Crown Solicitors and the amalgamation of counties and appointment of one solicitor as Crown Solicitor for several counties?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURWith the permission of my right honourable Friend I will reply to this Question. The number of Crown Solicitors in 1866 was 16, and of Sessional Crown Solicitors 33. The number of Crown Solicitors now is 30, and of Sessional Crown Solicitors 17. There has, consequently, been a reduction of two in the total number of Crown and Sessional Crown Solicitors. The Estimates for both services for the current year, as compared with the year 1866–7, show a saving of £5,156, though this amount does not include the savings effected by the abolition since the year 1883 of payments for special duty which could not be given at present with any approach to accuracy.