§ MR. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that some of the officers of his Department supply information obtained by them in the discharge of their official duties to certain newspapers by arrangement with the conductors of such papers; whether the Board stated in a letter to a correspondent on the 10th. instant, that they had not thought it necessary to interfere with the arrangement; whether payment is made to such officers for supplying the information; and whether, considering the provisions of 52 and 53 Vic, c. 52, the disclosure of official documents or information can be sanctioned?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARDI am aware that officers of the Department furnish certain publications with lists of the appointments and resignations of poor law officers and sanitary officers, the particulars being obtained from communications addressed to the Board. These lists are not prepared in official hours, and payment is made for them. The arrangement in no way contravenes the provisions of the Act referred to.