§ LORD R. CECIL (Marylebone, E.)To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the instructions issued to pension officers on 1st September last purported to be issued under the authority of the old-age pensions regulations; and whether there was anything on the instructions to show that they were confidential.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) Article 34 of the old-age pension regulations requires pension officers in the execution of their office to observe and follow the orders, instructions, and directions of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. The instructions given from time to time to pension officers by the Board of Inland Revenue are issued through the ordinary departmental channels under the general powers possessed by the Board, in common with other public Departments, to give directions to officers under their Departmental control. Officers are required by the ordinary rules of the public service to treat all instructions so issued as confidential in character, and it is not regarded as necessary, nor is it usual, that the communication in which the instruction is given should be specially so marked.