HC Deb 08 August 1901 vol 99 cc59-60
MR. JAMES O'CONNOR

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with respect to the memorandum issued on 12th July by the Board of National Education, signed by eleven Commissioners, stating that the book department had now passed successfully through the crisis, and that the supplies were being sent regularly as ordered, and that there was now no arrear in that branch, will he state upon whose information the eleven Commissioners based their statement.

MR. WYNDHAM

In the memorandum referred to, the Commissioners embodied the substance of reports on the state of the book department supplied by their responsible officers. They have no reason to doubt the correctness of these reports, but, at the same time, they are quite prepared to investigate statements tending to impugn their accuracy if they are supplied with facts and figures enabling them to do so.

MR. JAMES O'CONNOR

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Archbishop Walsh absolutely contradicts the statement?

MR. WYNDHAM

I am quite aware that there is a contradiction, and the Commissioners have promised to investigate the matter if supplied with facts and figures.