HC Deb 13 March 1888 vol 323 cc1090-2
MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the only rule promulgated and known to the Inland Revenue, relating to participation in political matters, is that contained in the General Instructions to Officers of the Inland Revenue, page 141—namely, that No person in the Service shall be a Member of any Political Association, nor take an active part in canvassing, or serve on committees at elections of Members of Parliament; whether there is any Rule, and, if so, what, and where, and how promulgated, against any officer of the Inland Revenue "taking part in or speaking at any public political meeting;" and, whether the Primrose League is a Political Association within the meaning of the Rule quoted?

THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)

the Rule in force in the Inland Revenue Service is correctly quoted; but it is well understood in the Inland Revenue Service that officers engaged in such duties as assessing or charging taxes or Excise duties are bound to refrain from public speaking and controversies on political matters, which might lay them open to accusations of favouritism in assessing the duties on taxpayers with whom they have officially to deal. The good sense of the Inland Revenue Ser- vice has hitherto recognized the reasonableness of the Rules in force; and very few cases have been brought to the notice of the Commissioners in which, by overt acts, officers have committed a breach of them, either in letter or spirit. The Primrose League is a Political Association within the meaning of the Rule.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

Why is Sir Alfred Slade exempted from the operation of this Rule?

MR. W. H. SMITH

I stated, on a former occasion, that he is not exempted from its operation at all.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

asked the right hon. Gentleman, whether it is a fact that a recent public political meeting held in Dublin, attended and addressed by the right hon. Member for Rossendale and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the following members of the Civil Service also attended and occupied prominent seats on the platform:—namely, General Sankey, Chief Commissioner of Works; Mr. Roberts, Junior Commissioner; and Mr. Soady, Secretary to the Board of Works; and, whether the General Rules of the Service, as to attending and taking part in public political meetings, extends to these gentlemen?

MR. W. H. SMITH

The gentlemen named did attend the public meeting referred to; but they did so in their private capacity, and took no part whatever in the proceedings. The General Rules of the Civil Service extend to all permanent members of that Body.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

said, that, as a consequence of the answers of the right hon. Gentleman to his two last Questions, he wished to know whether he still said that the Rules with regard to Political Associations were the same for all branches and officers of the Public Service?

MR. W. H. SMITH

Most certainly, Sir.

MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

Was it in his private capacity that Mr. Browning, the Solicitor to the Land Commission, signed the address to the noble Marquess the Member for Rossendale and the Chancellor of the Exchequer; and if the right hon. Gentleman is aware whether a similar manifestation of political opinion in the case of other gentlemen connected with the Land Commission led to those gentle- men being summarily dismissed owing to their attitude?

MR. W. H. SMITH

said, he had not had Notice of the Question, and he was not aware of anything of the kind to which the hon. Gentleman referred having taken place.

MR. T. M. HEALY

said, he would give Notice of a Question on that subject.