HC Deb 12 March 1908 vol 185 cc1722-3
MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, with reference to his reply last session to the hon. Member for Kilkenny City as regards the holiday inspection expenses of the Secretary o the Board of Inland Revenue, that only expenses incurred strictly on official business are charged to the Vote, and that these are of course subject to the scrutiny of the Audit Office, whether he is aware that the claims made out by this official indicated that the expenses were incurred during his autumn holiday; that up to the suspension last year of these so called inspections they have been systematically made in connection with his holiday visits, depending entirely on the situation of the places where he happened to spend his vacation; that in 1906 he stayed at a Yorkshire watering place and visited the various Excise stations in the neighbourhood, receiving in connection with these visits subsistence allowance at the rate of £1 per day; and that, as Secretary to the Inland Revenue Board, he sometimes issues so called Board's orders on his own account; and whether he will direct inquiry to be made into all the circumstances under which this official has been paid expenses during his holiday intervals, together with the total amount since his appointment to his present position.

(Answered by Mr. Runciman.) It is with the authority of the Board of Inland Revenue that their Excise Secretary has visited from time to time various collections in the United Kingdom; and they propose to continue an arrangement which, in their opinion, conduces, at trifling cost, to the efficiency of the Department. No Board's orders are issued, either by the Excise Secretary or by other officers of the Board, otherwise than by the authority and on the responsibility of the Board.

Estimated Amount of the Grant and Expenditure on account of Ireland under Sub-heads of the Vote for Treasury, &c. (Class II., Vote 3), 1906–7.
Sub-head. Grant. Expenditure.
£ £
A. Salaries 4,580 4,500
B. Travelling 25 25
D. Incidental expenses 26 25
N. Treasury Remembrancer, Ireland, Salaries, &c. 3,319 3,316
O. Treasury Remembrancer, Ireland, Travelling, &c. 40 28
Q. Teachers' Pension Office, Ireland, Salaries 2,394 2,398
R. Teachers' Pension Office, Ireland, Travelling, &c. 5 1

MR. HAZLETON

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state under each, sub-head the Irish proportion of the amount granted and the sum expended for the year 1906–7, under Vote 10, Class 1, Civil Service, Appropriation Accounts; and also the estimated and realised amounts from Ireland under Sub-head H.

(Answered by Mr. Runciman.) £95,500 was provided in the Survey Estimates for 1906–7 in respect of work in Ireland, and £94,170 was expended. The appropriations in aid amounted to

Class I., Vote 13. 1906–7. Amount of Grant estimated for Ireland. Amount of Expenditure on Irish Account.
Subhead A £120 £120 (estimated)
Sub-head B Nil Nil
Estimated receipt from Ireland. Actual receipt from Ireland.
Sub-head I £30 £26 1s. 2d.