§ 44. Mr. LYNCHasked the Prime Minister whether he can state what sum the office of Lord Chancellor is now annually costing the country by reason of the salary of the present occupant and the pensions paid to his predecessors; and whether, in the interests of economy, he will consider the merging this office into some other less expensive, less political, but more judicial Department of State?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe total of the sums paid to the Lord Chancellor as salary and as pensions to his three predecessors in office amounts to £25,000 per annum. The country has the benefit of the judicial services of the latter, who sit regularly as Lords of Appeal and as members of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. I am not prepared at the present time to consider any change.
§ Mr. LYNCHHas the right hon. Gentleman noticed of late that this Lord Chancellorship has been dealt with less as a great judicial office than as a caravanserai for retiring politicians?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir.