§ MR. GINNELLTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state, of the local bodies subject to the audit of the Local Government Board, how many pay a fixed sum yearly to a solicitor and how many do not; of those who pay a fixed sum yearly to a solicitor how many make additional payments to the same solicitor, and how many do not; on what principle does an auditor allow additional payments in such cases; and by what means does he protect the ratepayers from paying twice for the same service.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Local Government Board are not in possession of any information with regard to the first part of the Question. In auditing accounts the auditors have regard to the terms of the agreements made by councils with their solicitors and, by investigation of particulars of costs passed by councils, take every possible care to secure that the ratepayers are not charged twice for the same service.