§ MR. WATTTo ask the Lord-Advocate if he is aware that the Extractors' Department of the Court of Session was deprived of the advantages of the Court of Session Clerks Act by the action of his predecessor in office; and if there is any reason why that Department should not be put on the same level as the other departments and members of the staff entitled to superannuation.
(Answered by Mr. Thomas Shaw.) The Question appears to be based upon a misapprehension. So far as I am aware my predecessor in office did not in any way interpose so as to deprive the Extractors' Department of any advantages under the Clerks Act. The fact is, that under the Court of Session (No. 2) Act, 1838, the assistant extractor and clerks are appointed and hold office at the pleasure of the principal extractor. The rule of the Treasury applied to such a tenure of office is accordingly that they are not entitled to superannuation allowances under the Clerks of Session Regulation Act, 1889.