28. Mr. V. Adamsasked the Attorney-General what progress he has made in his promised consultation with his Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor upon the matter of pensions for judges' clerks?
§ The Solicitor-General (Sir Terence O'Connor)I have consulted my Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor on the matter. The application of the system of Civil Service superannuation to these officers would not be practicable without drastic changes in the present system of appointment and dismissal and modifications in other conditions of their service. It will be remembered that these officers are appointed and dismissed at the will of the judge and are his personal servants though paid by the State. They cease to hold their appointments when the judge to whom they are attached dies or retires, which may be after a short or long period of service. The changes and modifications to which I have alluded would not be in the interests of this particular service. Moreover, it must be borne in mind that the existing scale of salary takes account of the fact that the service is unpensionable.