HC Deb 16 April 1896 vol 39 cc1025-6
MR. ENGLEDOW

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) whether the recommendations contained in the Report by the Local Government Auditor, having reference to the accounts of the Carlow Grand Jury, which was read to the Grand Jury at its last meeting, have been carried out; and, if so, will he ascertain, what resolutions were adopted by the Grand Jury, carrying out those suggestions; and, if not, will he state what steps he intends taking in order to support or enforce that official's recommendations; and (2), whether it is a fact, as stated by the Auditor in his Report, that there were two or three instances of arrears being represented on the baronies at the summer assizes, when no arrears actually existed; and, if so, will he ascertain from the Auditor how much of those erroneous arrears had been illegally collected, and what he proposed doing with that amount?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

The Secretary to the Grand Jury has been asked to state whether any action has been taken on the recommendations made by the Auditor, who it appears drew attention to the fact that arrears for two baronies had been incorrectly represented at summer assizes, and that in some baronies such arrears did not exist. I may add, in reference to the concluding sentence of the first paragraph, that the Local Government Board have no jurisdiction over Grand Juries, and that the Board have no power to take any steps to support or enforce the Auditor's recommendations.