§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, when a local body arranges to pay its solicitor for some work by the case and for other work by a fixed annual sum, any record is kept and submitted to the auditor or to the Local Government Board of the actual service rendered for the latter payment; if so, and the payment appears to be exorbitant for the average service during a number of years, whether the local body is required to invite tenders for this service; if not, will he refer to any rule exempting this service from that common requirement; and will he state the total payments made by the Delvin Board of Guardians and district council to the same solicitor in each of these ways, respectively, and in both during the last fifteen financial years?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board understand that the course suggested by the hon. Member is not customary, and it would not be taken unless in exceptional circumstances. There is no rule requiring local bodies to invite tenders for the discharge of their legal business. The Board have no information as to the total payments made by the Delvin Board of Guardians and District Council, and I cannot see that any useful purpose would be served by putting the local officers to the trouble of going back over the books for the last fifteen years to obtain the information asked for.