§ MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, on the recent appointment of a new keeper and Secretary to the National Gallery, the Treasury took advantage of the opportunity to discontinue the allowance of £125 in lieu of a house, made as a personal allowance to the late officer, and to revise the salary of £750 for the office, which is considerably more than those paid for any of the similar posts?
§ MR. HANBURYThe allowance of £125 for a house ceased on the retirement of the late holder—as I hope other allowances will also cease. The salary has been reduced from £750 to one commencing at £600, and rising to £750 in eight years. The salary is in excess of that for the similar post at the Tate Gallery, only because this official has extra duties to perform as secretary and accounting officer to the trustees.