HC Deb 04 May 1927 vol 205 cc1628-9
61. Mr. JOHNSTON

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the amount in fees and other emoluments, as apart from salary, paid to the holders of the offices of Attorney-General and Solicitor-General, respectively, under the provisions of the Treasury Minute of 5th July, 1895, for the years 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925 and 1926, respectively?

Mr. McNEILL

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. BATEY

Cannot we have the figures now, as they are so important?

Mr. WESTWOOD

In view of the statements which the Attorney-General has made outside this House about hon. Members of this House, are we not entitled to get these figures now?

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Is it not a fact that I gave the figures last night in the House myself; that he gets £100 a day, Sundays included, £700 a week?

Mr. BATEY

I must ask you again, Mr. Speaker. Cannot we have the answer to-day? We are anxious to have those figures.

Mr. SPEAKER

This is a question which has been asked for many years, and the Law Officers' remuneration has always been given in tabular form. It is much more convenient to have it in that form. Hon. Members will have it to-morrow.

Mr. BATEY

But the Attorney-General is seeking to impoverish the working classes of this country, and I think we have a right to know now what his salary is.

Mr. PALING

On a point of Order. May I ask whether, if the House expresses a desire to have an answer to a question, it is not usual for the Minister to give that answer immediately?

Mr. SPEAKER

No. When the answer is in tabular form it is generally circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. BECKETT

Would not the answer to this question have provided a suitable text for the sermon which I have no doubt the Prime Minister has for us to-day?

Mr. W. THORNE

Some Tory Members are circulating accounts throughout the country of the amount of expenses and salaries which we are getting, but which we are not getting.

The figures are as follow:

Year ending. Attorney-General Solicitor-General
£ s. d. £ s. d.
31st March, 1923 17,278 19 11 6,565 2 0
31st March, 1924 12,995 4 6 6,000 3 2
31st March 1925 23,846 1 1 7,656 10 0
31st March 1926 16,967 14 10 13,091 7 10

Particulars of the fees paid during the year ending 31st March, 1927, are not yet available.