HC Deb 27 April 1904 vol 133 cc1307-9
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been directed to the recommendation to the Unionist electors of the constituency of West Down of a candidate for the Parliamentary representation of that constituency at the next general election by the Deputy-Master of the Mint; and whether it is in consonance with practice and the rules regulating the conduct of members of the Civil Service, that a permanent official in that Civil Service should take action of this character in Party politics; and what course, if any, does the Executive Government propose to take with reference to this case.

MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the intervention of the Deputy-Master of the Mint in the affairs of West Down has operated—

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The hon. Member had better await the reply to the Question on the Paper.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I understand that at a meeting in the constituency to which the hon. Gentleman refers there was a reference made to the opinion of the Deputy-Master of the Mint as to the candidate whom it would be desirable to select. I also understand that this statement attributed to the Deputy-Master of the Mint was based upon a casual conversation held in a railway carriage some months before, and was entirely unauthorised by the gentleman in question. I am as anxious as any hon. Member of this House to keep the Civil Service outside the sphere of controversial politics, but I imagine the hon. Gentleman who put the Question and every man will agree that we cannot pursue Civil Servants into clubs and railway carriages.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Will you ask Mr. Macartney to be more careful in future?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

No, Sir.

MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON (Dundee)

Is not this matter regulated by a Treasury Minute? Could not that be re-issued?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

There appears to be nothing in this charge. Every Civil Servant of course is acquainted with the Minute, which does not refer to casual conversations in railway carriages or clubs.

MR. MACVEAGH

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the action of the Deputy-Master of the Mint has operated to the detriment of a Member of this House, the hon. Member for Oswestry, who was recommended for the same constituency.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Inasmuch as Mr. Macartney says he has been misrepresented, why did he not contradict the statement when it appeared in the public Press?

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! How-can the First Lord of the Treasury answer such a Question? The hon. Member must choose some other opportunity to raise this question.