§ MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to the Return ordered as to the qualifications of Government servants in Ireland, whether he can state on what grounds his legal advisers base their opinion that the House of Commons has no power to require Government servants in Ireland to answer interrogatories ordered by this House; whether the Government will sanction any official refusing to supply the information called for by this House; and whether it will be made clear that officials pursuing that course will do so at their own risk.
§ MR. ATKINSONThe grounds are that there is nothing in the terms or conditions of the employment of Civil servants, or of the well - established practice of the Civil Service, entitling the Executive to institute ex post facto inquiries into such incidents of their past private life as the place of their education, or obliging Civil servants to answer such inquiries, if instituted. The reply to the second query is in the affirmative, and to the third in the negative.
§ MR. MACVEAGHDo the Government intend to sanction the action of any official who chooses to defy the order of this House?
§ MR. ATKINSONAn order of this House cannot compel any man, not a Member, to answer a question which by law he is not bound to.
§ MR. MACVEAGHWho gave this advice to the Chief Secretary? Was it the right hon. Gentleman himself?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!