HC Deb 02 February 1900 vol 78 cc449-50
MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether the Local Government Board have sanctioned the copyrighting of the ratepaper (Form 30), required every year by each county council in Ireland by a Dublin printing firm who issue books and forms for a Local Government Board official: and, whether they can state if the effect of this copyright has been to create a printing monopoly for one Dublin firm, and increased prices by the ratepayers for this ratepaper.

MR. G. W. BALFOUR

The form of ratebook prescribed by the Local Government Board has not been copyrighted, and can be obtained from any firm of printers and publishers. The Board learn that a mechanical arrangement of the ratebook, by which the rates for two half-years can be shown on one folio of the book, has been protected by a Dublin printing firm, but the Local Government Board have no official information respecting this form, nor have they expressed any opinion about it, or recommended its adoption in preference to the ratebooks brought out by any other firm. All forms prescribed by the Local Government Board's orders can be obtained by county councils, district councils, and boards of guardians, from any printers and publishers they may select, and at whatever may be the lowest market prices.

MR. FLAVIN

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Irish Local Government Board has recommended to certain county councils the use of this particular form?

MR. G. W. BALFOUR

I am not aware of that.