§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the practice as regards payments when permanent officials of Irish Departments act as arbitrators; whether they are paid fees and expenses as part of, or in addition to, their regular salaries and expenses; what is their rate of payment when acting as arbitrators; whether the amount paid to them in that capacity becomes a local charge, increasing the local burden, or a general charge included in the expenses of the Department to which they belong; "whether he will state the name of each unofficial arbitrator who acted in the financial year 1908–9; the subject of arbitration; the time it occupied; the amount of fees and of expenses paid; whether this is to be a local charge; and, if so, the name of the local body at whose instance the charge was incurred?
§ Mr. BIRRELLSo far as I am aware the only permanent official of an Irish Department who acts as an arbitrator is the Commissioner of Valuation, who has been appointed by the Board of Trade on the recommendation of the Irish Government to act as arbitrator in the case of certain guaranteed railways. The work, which is done during his annual leave, occupies from two to three days in the year. His fees and expenses, amounting in all to £12 12s. a year, are paid by the railway companies. Persons other than permanent officials are appointed from time to time to act as arbitrators under the458W Labourers (Ireland) Acts, the Tramways (Ireland) Acts, the Railways Clauses Act, and for other purposes. The particulars asked for with respect to such unofficial arbitrators could not be furnished without imposing undue labour on the Departments concerned.