HC Deb 19 March 1883 vol 277 cc783-4
MR. GORST

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, prior to the anticipated discussion of the matter in the House of Commons, officers of the Inland Revenue will be allowed, without censure or punishment being inflicted on them by the Board of Inland Revenue, or by Her Majesty's Government, to petition Parliament for an inquiry into their case, and to apply to Members of this House representing constituencies to which they respectively belong, to support the motion for such inquiry; and, whether the sanction of the Treasury was given, in his absence, to the General Order of the 3rd of January; and, if so, whether the Treasury Minute, or other document giving such sanction, can be laid upon the Table?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)

said, the hon. and learned Member asked the same Question on Thursday last, only he now asked that the answer might have relation to a limited time, until he raised the Question in debate. With every respect to the hon. and learned Gentleman, he must decline to go beyond the answer he gave on Thursday, and for the reasons he then gave in that answer. In reply to the second part of the Question, he had to say that the General Order was approved before he acted as Chancellor of the Exchequer, and he could not lay any Papers on the subject on the Table.

SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF

asked if approbation was given to the Order, in the absence of the First Lord of the Treasury and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the only two Members of the Board who were Privy Councillors?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)

said, that his right hon. Friend was in London at the time.

SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF

But was he consulted in the matter?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)

That is a matter which it is not usual to state.

LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

asked when the Papers would be presented to the House?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)

said, he laid them on the Table a week ago. He would inquire how soon they could be printed; but that was a matter he had no control over.