§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, having regard to the statement of a Miss Flora Shaw, a Times agent, made in his presence, that she was a constant visitor in her journalistic capacity at the Colonial Office, he will say whether a similar privilege of communication with the Secretary of State and the permanent officials of the Colonial Office has been granted to the representative of any other, and, if so, of what journal or journals; and on what grounds such privilege is granted?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.No special privilege has at any time been granted to Miss Shaw. Persons representing Press agencies and journals frequently apply for information as to colonial matters, and it is customary to afford such information where it can be given without injury to the public service.