HC Deb 26 May 1908 vol 189 cc952-3
MR. BOWLES

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether he has recently appointed three gentlemen to be prosecuting counsel to the Treasury in London; whether any, and, if so, which, of these gentlemen is a Scotsman or an Irishman; and whether there was no Englishman qualified and competent for these posts.

SIR W. ROBSON

I appointed these gentlemen without inquiring as to their particular or local nationality in the United Kingdom. They are, however, I believe, all members of the English Bar, and, so far as I know, they are all Englishmen.

LORD R. CECIL

May I ask the hon. and learned Gentleman whether he will use his influence with his colleagues to see that a similar procedure is adopted with reference to all appointments in. Scotland and Ireland?

SIR W. ROBSON

I cannot promise that I will. I myself take a somewhat Unionist view of this matter.

MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY (Limerick, W.)

Why should not an Irishman be appointed if he be the ablest man of the lot?

SIR W. ROBSON

I know of no reason whatever. In fact, I am not sure that in my recent appointments the hon. Member will not find an Irishman, though I do not profess always to be able to distinguish between an Irishman, an Englishman, and a Scotsman.