§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that for the last three years the salaries and fees of the Law Officers of the Crown, which amounted in that period to nearly £100,000, have been voted by the House without discussion; and whether he will take any steps to secure that in the present year these salaries and fees will be subjected to Parliamentary criticism.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am informed that the hon. Member's figures are not correct, and that the total should not be £100,000, but somewhere about £75,000, for the three years. I have no objection to this Vote coming up for discussion if the House so desires. Whether it would not exclude the discussion of more important Votes it is not for me to determine, but for the Opposition and those who usually advise me on the manner in which the Votes should be distributed.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLThe right hon. Gentleman had no objection last year, but he deliberately guillotined that Vote.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUR; When the hon. Member says I deliberately guillotined that Vote, I suppose he means that it was, as a matter of fact, closured at the end of the allotted days.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI charge him with having prevented discussion.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURWell, then, the charge is incorrect.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI adhere to it.