§ MR. DILLWYNasked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether the Surveyor of Works is or has recently been in the employment of the Metropolitan District Railway Company, and whether the Office of Works has had dealings for land with that Company?
LORD HENRY LENNOXSir, the first part of the hon. Member's Question refers to matters of which I have no official cognizance, and to that he will therefore not expect me to give a reply. With regard to the second part of the Question, I can inform the hon. Member that in 1868 the Government had dealings with the Metropolitan District Railway in the sale of some land to that Company, but the present Surveyor of Works was not engaged in determining or suggesting the price that should be 1955 given for that land. Perhaps the hon. Member will forgive me for suggesting to him that if he has any charges to bring against the Surveyor of Works (Mr. Hunt), I should be obliged to the hon. Member if he would have the goodness to put down on the Paper a substantive Motion, which would give me, as head of the office, an opportunity of meeting those charges, and of vindicating the character of a public servant.