§ MR. GWYNN (Galway)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the teaching staff of the Royal College of Science, London, received substantial additions to income and exceptional pension privileges on the transfer of the administration of that college to the Imperial College of Science and Technology in January last; whether he can state on what principle the Treasury has acted in awarding these special terms; and if the principle is applicable to professors in Irish colleges under similar circumstances.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HOBHOUSE,) Bristol, E.On the transfer of the Royal College of Science to the governing body of the Imperial College the salaries of the teaching staff ceased to be payable directly out of public funds and I have therefore no information in respect of them. The Treasury, however, under the powers conferred upon them by the 1091 Superannuation Acts, agreed to award to these gentlemen compensation allowances and gratuities where justified by length of service, on the abolition of their offices under the Board of Education. The compensation of officers transferred from Irish Colleges is provided for in Section 16 of the Irish Universities Act, and in this connection I beg to refer the hon. Member to my reply of the 4th May last to the hon. and learned Member for Cambridge University.
§ MR. GWYNNAm I to understand that the same principle applies to both England and Ireland when a college is transferred from Civil Service status to an outside status?
§ MR. HOBHOUSESo far as the provisions of the Irish University Act admit, yes.