HC Deb 09 August 1905 vol 151 cc808-9
MR. BENN (Devonport)

I beg to ask the Patronage Secretary to the Treasury if a new rule now exists prohibiting any Parliamentary agent practising in this House giving any commission or gratuity to any person in respect of his employment as a Parliamentary agent; and, if so, whether Messrs. Bircham amp; Company, who recently paid a secret commission of 33⅓ per cent, to the late town clerk of Holborn, have consented to abide by the said rule.

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY (Sir A. ACLAND-HOOD, Somersetshire,) Wellington

Yes, if the hon. Member will look at the present rules with regard to Parliamentary agents, he will find that Rule 13 prohibits any such practices. With regard to the second part of the Question, such payments have always hitherto been regarded as "agency payments," and not in anyway as secret commission. This was clearly stated by the Attorney-General on May 15th †, 1905. Messrs. Bircham amp; Company and all other Parliamentary agents will, of course, conform to the rules.

MR. BENN

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that view has been repudiated by the Holborn Town Council, which has declared these so called "agency charges" to be secret commissions, and have in consequence declined to give any more business to this particular firm?

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The Treasury have no control over the Holborn Town Council.