§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, What are the Regulations of the Treasury as to the disclosure by officials of public scandals of which they have knowledge; whether such knowledge constitutes an official secret; and, whether an official, who is aware of such scandals, and has unsuccessfully brought them to the notice of his official superiors, renders himself liable to punishment for disclosing, in good faith, the fact that the public, his masters, are thereby being injured?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)There are no general instructions to officials as to the disclosure of public scandals of which they may have knowledge, although there are instructions relative to the divulgence of official documents. It would be the duty of a public servant 1570 to report an official scandal to his chiefs. Any official who is aware of such scandals, and has unsuccessfully brought them to the notice of his official superiors and to the notice of the Government, would, undoubtedly, be protected for disclosing, in good faith, the fact that the public, his masters, are being injured. But such public servant is under the same responsibility as other subjects; and the fact of his being a public servant would not protect him if he should make false charges, or should publish libels on character.