§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)asked the Patronage Secretary 1103 to the Treasury, Whether it is true that—
The book containing the names of the newspapers allowed to be advertised in has been changed four times in the last three years, and is invariably revised by the Patronage Secretary of the Treasury directly there is a change of Government;and whether he will consent to surrender this remnant of the system of political patronage?
§ THE PATRONAGE SECRETARY (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS) (Kent, St. Augustine's)A list of newspapers receiving Government advertisements is changed with every new Government; but though there have been three changes of Government within the last two years, there have been only two lists employed, the present Government resuming the use of the list prepared by them in 1885; while the late Government reverted to the list in use during the period from 1880 to 1885. In answer to the second portion of the Question, I have to say that the system of issuing Government advertisements is at present under consideration.