MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies will he agree to a Return giving the total amount of remuneration received by each one of the Crown Agents for the Colonies during each of the last five years; the detailed account of the sources whence in each of such years the fund was derived from which such remuneration was paid; the purpose to which any overplus of such fund beyond the amount required for the remuneration of the agents was applied; and the source whence any deficiency of such fund to meet the remuneration in question was provided, when the fund itself may have proved insufficient for the purpose.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir. The Return will be prepared and presented as soon as practicable. I have no doubt my hon. friend is already aware of what I am about to state—namely, that the Crown Agents for the Colonies are paid by fixed salaries—salaries fixed by me as Secretary of State—and that those salaries do not vary in proportion to the commission which the office receives.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir.