HC Deb 23 July 1903 vol 126 cc57-8
COLONEL MCCALMONT (Antrim, E.)

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when it is proposed to send a reply to the Commissioners of Irish Lights relative to the office staff of that Board; and whether, seeing that it is the only branch of the Irish Lights Board in winch the pay is not assimilated to that of the Trinity House, he will explain the cause of the delay, similar recommendations from the Trinity House having been dealt with in a period of a few months.

(Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) The Board of Trade cannot admit that salaries paid to the staff of the Irish Lights Board must necessarily be assimilated to those of Trinity House. The Board will deal with the application on its merits, and are in communication with the Commissioners on the subject. A question has arisen as to the retirement of one of the officers which will have an effect on the acceptance, or perhaps the refusal, of the Commissioners' proposals.