CAPTAIN CRAIGI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the present professors in the three Queen's Colleges, Ireland, are civil servants, and as such eligible for pensions payable out of the Consolidated Fund under a modern Superannuation Act; and have any professors of these colleges, when retired, received their pensions hitherto out of the Consolidated Fund or out of moneys voted by Parliament.
§ MR. HOBHOUSEProfessors at present serving in the three Queen's Colleges, Ireland, who hold their appointments under Royal Warrant and who are required to give their whole time to their professional duties are deemed to be persons serving in an established capacity in the permanent Civil Service of the State within the meaning of the Superannuation Act, 1859, and as such, subject to the conditions laid down under the Superannuation Acts, entitled to pension under that Act. Pensions granted under the Superannuation Act, 1859, are not charged directly on the Consolidated Fund, but are subject to the Vote of Parliament, and all pensions which have been granted to retired professors of the college in question have been paid, and where still payable continue to be paid, out of moneys provided by Parliament.
CAPTAIN CRAIGIf the pension were payable here out of money provided by Parliament or out of the Consolidated Fund, would it set free a sufficient amount of money to pay for the Endowed Denominational Higher Education Bill now before the Committee upstairs?
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWill the hon. and gallant Member explain the meaning of that Question?