§ MR. HUTCHINSONasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether he is aware that cases have occurred in which Engineer Inspectors under the said Board have given evidence in a private professional capacity before Select Committees on Private Bills; and, whether he will state to the House any regulations he has made, or intends to make, in order to prevent a continuance of the same?
§ MR. SCLATER-BOOTHSir, a case has recently been brought under my notice in which an Engineer Inspector acted in the manner referred to in the Question, and I have since ascertained that in three or four other instances a similar thing has occurred; but, in those cases, the consent of the Department was previously obtained. In the particular case referred to, the Inspector does not appear to have been aware that he had committed any irregularity; but I have taken precautions to prevent such an occurrence in future, and have given specific directions that the Engineering Inspectors shall not, either with a view of giving evidence or otherwise, advise in their private capacity on any matter within the jurisdiction of the Board or 485 in relation to which they may he required to act officially, in respect to which an inquiry is ordered.