§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he will lay upon the Table a statement showing how the division of expenditure 1349 between the Post Office in Ireland and the Post Office in Great Britain has been arrived at; and if he will state if the Estimate already presented to the House has been approved or confirmed by the permanent officials of the Post Office?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE,) Edinburgh, MidlothianI am not quite sure that I understand the exact nature of my right hon. Friend's question. Is it that he wishes to know in each case the grounds upon which the particular division of charge is made? If so, I will endeavour to obtain that information. With regard to the latter part of the question, my right hon. Friend is well aware that the Government cannot know anything except through the Heads of Departments. If they are to substitute the responsibility of the permanent officials for that of the Heads of Departments, in regard to the accuracy of statements, the House of Commons would entirely lose its supervising power over the Public Offices. Heads of Departments must judge of the information they receive from the permanent officials.