HC Deb 23 November 1917 vol 99 cc1537-8
2 Mr. BYRNE

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture on whose authority the revised schemes of technical instruction for Ireland were sent out of Ireland for printing; whether the Stationery Office or his Department was responsible; and whether any protest was or will be made by the Board of Technical Instruction, which was founded largely for the protection and revival of Irish industries?

Sir T. RUSSELL

All printing for public Departments is arranged by His Majesty's Stationery Office. Owing, I believe, to a strike of printers in Dublin, the work referred to was sent to London, but I am informed that, as a matter of fact, the schemes, instead of being printed, were neostyled. The matter was referred to at the recent meeting of the Board of Technical Instruction, but no resolution was passed, as the matter was one over which the Department had no control. An individual member of the Board, however, asked to have his protest recorded.

Mr. BYRNE

When the right hon. Gentleman suggests that the Stationery Office sent the printing to England on account of the strike, is he aware that half of the printing establishments in Dublin had settled with their men and could have done the printing quite easily?

Sir T. RUSSELL

I was not aware of that.