§ MR. LIDDELL (Down, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can now state the name of the person or firm carrying out the printing contract of the Sligo County Council; whether he is aware that the tender given to a Mrs. M'Hugh has been found void by Major Eccles, the Government auditor; that this tender was £399 per annum for three years, and that the lowest tender was £216 13s. 4d. per annum; whether he is aware that this lowest tender was stated to have been refused for the reason that it was the rule of the Sligo County Council that all its printing should be done in Sligo, and that the secretary to the Sligo County Council admitted to Major Eccles that a considerable portion of the accepted contract was executed in Dublin; whether he will take steps to secure that the Irish council which the Government propose to set up shall not have power to give contracts to persons for political purposes; and will he say how much money has been paid by the Sligo County Council to Mrs. M'Hugh in respect of the printing tender of £399 per annum.
§ MR. CHERRY (for Mr. BIRRELL)I am informed that the King's Bench Division of the High Court has issued a conditional order of certiorari to bring up for review the decision of the Local Government Board's auditor in this case. As the proceedings are pending, it does not seem desirable to enter into details of the case.