§ Mr GINNELLasked the Secretary to the Treasury what Law Officers of the Crown have been paid out of public funds fees in addition to salary in the two last completed financial years, showing in each 395W case the fixed salary, the title of each extra case, and sum paid to Law Officer and clerk in respect of it, the total paid to the Law Officer and his clerk in the year, the characteristic enabling the auditor to distinguish the services for which the extra payments are made from those for which the salary is paid; and whether the officer is free to engage in private practice also?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe Law Officers in England and Ireland are paid a fixed salary for non-contentious business, and the extra fees they receive are in respect of contentious business which is not covered by their salaries. The distinction, it is understood, presents no difficulties to the Comptroller and Auditor-General. The Scottish Law Officers receive inclusive salaries for all kinds of business, and no fees. In the case of the English and Irish Law Officers the salaries, as shown in the Annual Estimates, and the fees (including clerk's fees), as shown in the Appropriation Accounts, 1911–12, pp. 236 and 276, are as follows:—
Salary. Fees in 1911–12. England— £ £ s. d. Attorney-General … 7,000 6,321 17 5 Solicitor-General … 6,000 4,247 6 0 Ireland— Attorney-General … 5,000 646 16 0 Solicitor-General … 2,000 405 6 0 The total of fees for 1912–13 is not yet available. The details of the fees in each separate case and of the clerk's fees separately could only be obtained by the expenditure of a quite disproportionate amount of labour and expense, and I hope the hon. Member will be willing not to press for this information. The English Law Officers are debarred from private practice during their tenure of office.