HC Deb 29 March 1900 vol 81 cc716-8
MR. HAYDEN (Roscommon, S.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that a gentleman who is an accredited press representative in the Lobby of the House of Commons holds an official and salaried position in the London Record Office: and whether it is consistent with the rules of the public service that a gentleman holding a public position of this description should be permitted to act as an agent for the press. May I be permitted to state that the question has been so sub-edited that neither in form nor in phraseology is it mine, and this alteration has been made entirely without communication or consultation with me?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman still takes an interest in his question, but if he does I may inform him that the person to whom he refers does not occupy a salaried position, but he does certain work for the Record Office for which he is paid. No Department has any control over his time when not engaged on this work.

MR. HAYDEN

May I ask if it is in the interest of the public service that an employee of a Government Department should be connected with the press in this manner?

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!

MR. HAYDEN

I shall draw attention to this on the Estimates.