§ MR. CRILLY (Mayo, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what are the grounds on which a new office has been created in the Department of the Chief Crown Solicitor of Ireland; what is the salary attached to the new office; what scale of superannuation is to be allowed; and whether any appointment has as yet been made in respect to the office of second assistant to the Chief Crown Solicitor.
§ MR G. W. BALFOURThe office of Second Assistant to the Chief Crown Solicitor, Ireland, has been created by the Irish Government with the approval of the Treasury, because it was considered essential that there should be at headquarters a permanent official assisting and representing the Chief Crown Solicitor in the conduct of Government business. No addition has been made to the staff of the Chief Crown Solicitor by the creation of this new post, the gentleman appointed to it being Mr. William George Towers, who has already rendered excellent service as assistant since 1888. The salary attached to the new post is £500, progressing to £600 per annum. The allowance for personal clerks at present drawn by the Chief Crown Solicitor will henceforth be reduced by £500 a year, that being the remuneration paid to Mr. Towers prior to his appointment on the permanent staff. Mr. Towers will be entitled to superannuation on the scale prescribed by the Superannuation Acts.