HC Deb 31 March 1898 vol 55 c1484
MR. JAMES O'CONNOR

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) if the following charges are made to contractors by the Grand Jury Officials of County Wicklow: each tender form, 1s. 6d.; car hire to distributor (secretary's clerk), 6d.; each bond form, 1s.; each specification, 1s.; form of application for payments, 1s. 2d.; secretary's clerk for giving out forms, 6d.; each application to renew contract, 1s. 6d.; car hire therefor, 6d.; each cheque to secretary's clerk, 6d.; each application for new work, 1s. 6d.; car hire therefor, 6d.; (2) whether a separate application for payment (with separate fees) has to be lodged for every separate contract, and two applications for every mail car road, one on the barony and one on the county at large; (3) whether these forms are printed at the expense of the county; and (4) whether these charges will be reckoned as salary or emoluments, in accordance with Clause 72 of the Local Government (Ireland) Bill?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

The charges mentioned in the first paragraph do not all correspond with those with which I have been supplied by the Secretary to the Grand Jury, and which are as follows:—Application for a new work, 6d.; for filling same, 6d.; form of tender, 6d.; for filling same, 6d.; for bond filled and prepared, 1s.; application for payment, 1s.; car hire, 6d.; copy specification, 1s. These fees were fixed by the Grand Jury. The answer to the second paragraph is in the affirmative. The blank forms are printed at the expense of the county. The fees, being authorised by the Grand Jury, would presumably be included by the Secretary in his claims in respect of emoluments.

MR. DALY

Are these charges in accordance with Act of Parliament?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I must ask for notice of that Question.