§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, when the number of first-class clerks employed in the Land Commission was reduced by the transfer of two to staff posts of a different designation from that of first-class clerk, the offices of these two clerks were abolished; and whether he can state what is the rank of the officers now occupying the positions formerly held by those first-class clerks.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The two first-class clerks referred to in the Question as appointed to staff posts were and are still attached to the Church Property Department, and they discharge, along with other duties, the duties upon which they were previously engaged. The change in their official designation did not involve the transfer of their duties to other clerks.
§ MR. FIELDTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state, in view of the fact that there are third-class clerks in the Land Commission Offices at present in receipt of a larger salary than the initial salary of a second-class clerk, while rising to the same maximum salary as the second-class and by the same annual increment, under what circumstances are promotions made from third-class to second-class clerkships in this Department; and whether one of the second-class clerks in the Land Commission is in receipt of a salary which is greater than the maximum salary of a first-class clerk in that Department.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The line of demarcation between the second and third-class clerks has been removed in the interests of the third-class, and, subject to certain limitations prescribed by the Treasury, the members of the third-class may by increment reach the maximum salary of the second-class. Promotions from the third-class are made by the Land Commissioners, who pay regard to efficiency and seniority. Special pay has been assigned from time to time to second-class clerks by reason of the character and importance of the duties discharged by them. The amount of the 852 duty pay so assigned varies. In one instance a second-class clerk, who was called to the Bar in 1898, and had long and special training in the Examiners' Department, was placed in charge of the Vesting Department under the Estates Commissioners and was awarded duty pay which, with his salary, brought his annual emoluments above the maximum salary of a first-class clerk. This officer, though classified as a second-class clerk, does not discharge duties properly assignable to such a clerk.
§ MR. FIELDTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the number of 121 clerks assigned by the Treasury to the Land Commission in January, 1892, when this Department was organised on a permanent basis, has since that time been increased to 372, principally by the addition of junior Second Division clerks and abstractors; whether he will consider the advisability, in the interests of the public service, of the Treasury instituting an inquiry into the working of this Department with the object of amalgamating, as far as possible, the various classes of clerks in these offices, and arranging the clerical staff on a properly graduated scale such as is adopted in the other Government Departments.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer to his former Question of 19th March, in which full details are given. †The duties discharged by the staff of the Land Commission are extremely varied. Many of the posts require professional qualifications and training for their proper discharge, while others are purely clerical; and many of the latter posts can be well filled by junior clerks, boy clerks, and abstractors. It would not be possible to amalgamate the various classes of clerks in the manner suggested. I am not aware of any reason for suggesting to the Treasury that an inquiry in the matter should be held.
§ MR. FIELDTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state what was the
† See (4) Debates, clxxi, 639.853 necessity for the appointment of eight legal clerks to the Land Commission at salaries of £350 and £200 per annum; what is the legal nature of their duties; by whom were these duties performed before the creation of these appointments; and are similar duties being satisfactorily performed at present by other officials not enjoying the salary or the title of legal clerks.(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The employment of the eight clerks referred to, five of whom are designated conveyancing clerks and three legal clerks, was rendered necessary by the great increase of the business in the Examiners' and Vesting Departments of the Land Commission arising under the Act of 1903. The duties include the vouching of titles, the vesting and conveyancing of holdings, and other work requiring legal training. A considerable portion of the work assigned to these officers was formerly discharged by assistant examiners, who are not now employed, and the duties are not similar in character to those assigned to ordinary clerks at a lower salary. These appointments are temporary, and seven of the holders are barristers or solicitors.