§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the recommendation of the Tweedmouth Committee that bond giving should be abolished in the case of pensionable Post Office servants has been considered, and with what result?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) PrestonThe matter has been considered by the Postmaster General, who has recently made proposals to the Treasury on the subject. Speaking for the Treasury, I may add that the recommendation of the Committee is in general accordance with the policy pursued by the Treasury in recent years in dealing with the question of bonds as it has arisen in other than Revenue Departments. The latter Departments, however, stand to a great extent in an exceptional position, and the matter is receiving very careful consideration in connection with bonds, not only in the Post Office, but also in the Customs and Inland Revenue. The Treasury is averse to deciding upon the application from the Post Office before it is in possession of the views of the Customs and Inland Revenue on the subject as it affects their own officers.