HC Deb 27 June 1881 vol 262 cc1361-3
MR. O'DONNELL

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he is aware that the telegraph clerks at numerous important centres have instructed their committees to furnish the Members of Parliament with copies of the objections of the clerks to the last scheme for the organisation of the Telegraph Department, so that Parliament may be in possession of such information previous to voting public money for the Government scheme; and, whether the clerks who furnish such information to Members of Parliament will be punished by exclusion from any benefits under the Government scheme?

LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH

No, Sir. I have no knowledge, apart from the intimation conveyed by the Question of the hon. Member, of any such intention on the part of the telegraphists as that described in his first Question. As regards the supposed object of such instructions—namely, the information of Parliament, I would suggest to hon. Members that it is not the custom of this House when voting public money to depend for its information upon representations made to individual Members, but upon information open to all Members alike, which can be duly examined into and tested. With respect to the second Question, it is the wish of the Government that the scheme, which has been framed with great care by the Departments responsible for the Service with the view of promoting efficiency and of removing all causes of well-founded complaint, should be applied with as little delay as possible to the various offices throughout the country. It would, however, be impossible to acquiesce in the continuance of organized agitation, accompanied with threats of a general strike, unless claims which we cannot but regard as entirely inadmissible are conceded. If, therefore, such an agitation were to be continued, it may be necessary to suspend in particular cases the introduction of the new scheme. I trust, however, that no such necessity will arise.

MR. O'DONNELL

The noble Lord has not aswered my Question, which is, whether the clerks who furnished information to Members of Parliament will be punished by exclusion from any benefits under the Government scheme? I did not raise any question of strikes and agitation, and so forth, which I will be ready enough to consider when the time comes. It is a very simple and straightforward Question?

LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH

I do not think it would be of any use to answer such a Question. A great deal depends on the character of the representations which were made; but I am not aware that the Government has any such intention as that stated by the hon. Member

MR. O'DONNELL

I have asked a Question which is strictly within my right to ask, and which I think the noble Lord is bound to reply to. I want to know, generally speaking, whether the clerks in the Telegraph Office who furnish information to Members of this House of the opinions of their body with regard to the Government scheme will be punished in any way by the Government? That is a simple and straightforward Question. If there are any exceptions, they can be dealt with exceptionally.

LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH

The hon. Member asks whether telegraph clerks who furnish information to Members of Parliament will be punished. I cannot say that I am aware of any such intention.

MR. O'DONNELL

That is not the Question. The Secretary to the Treasury seems to be desirous of provoking a Motion for the adjournment of the House. I must distinctly ask him to answer the closing part of my Question—whether the clerks who furnished such information to Members of Parliament will be punished by exclusion from any benefits under the Government scheme?

LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH

I have already stated that any action of Government must entirely depend on the manner in which the representations were made. These have been accompanied by very general threats of a universal strike, which might require the serious consideration of the Government?

MR. O'DONNELL

Does the noble Lord intend to make this rule general, and does the Government intend to propose—

MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member has put his Question twice, and he has received an answer. He is not entitled to repeat his Question.

MR. O'DONNELL

I was not about to repeat my Question. I was about to ask, in consequence of the nature of the reply received from the noble Lord, whether the Government intend to make the rule general; and whether they propose a curtailment of the salaries of all officials who engage in extra-official agitation—not only the lower class of officers, but also the higher paid officials?

LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH

I am not aware how the Government can propose to make any rule general, seeing that no rule has been stated.