§ MR. J. G. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if it is the intention of the Government to disfranchise the Civil Service if any of its members, who are unable to get their grievances redressed through the proper official channel, press heir grievances on the attention of their Parliamentary representative?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, EI suppose the hon. Gentleman refers to the Report of the Committee to which my right hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury alluded the other night in Debate. The Committee in then Report drew attention to the abuses which might arise in consequence of Parliamentary pressure, put upon Members by those of their constituents who happen to be Civil Servants. I think everybody will feel that it is capable of abuse; but the Government had no intention of taking the course indicated in the Question.
§ MR. WEIRsaid the statement of the Financial Secretary to the Treasury amounted to a veiled threat that those men would be disfranchised.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI do not think my right hon. Friend's words bear that interpretation.