§ DR. G. B. CLARK (Caithness)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether a vacancy has occurred in the office of Sheriff-Substitute in Kirkwall; (2) whether the salary of the late Sheriff-Substitute was £500 per annum; (3) whether these judges are required to devote their whole time to the work, and do the work in Scotland done by county court judges and recorders; (4) whether the officers of a like character in England and Ireland are paid about £1,500 a year; and (5) whether the Treasury will see that a larger salary is paid in future in order that competent men may accept these important offices in Scotland?
MR. GRAHAM MURRAYI have been desired to reply to the hon. Member. The first four paragraphs of the Question are substantially correct. The salary was £550 and many duties devolve on sheriff-substitutes which are not imposed on county court judges or recorders. I shall at all times endeavour to secure the service of competent men for these important posts, and I shall trust that the Treasury will enable me to secure them.
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The hon. Member is now going beyond the Question.
§ DR. CLARKI shall bring the Question up on the Estimates, and move the reduction of the salary of either the First Lord or the Secretary to the Treasury.