HC Deb 04 August 1887 vol 318 cc1153-4
MR. ATHERLEY-JONES (Durham, N.W.)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, When it is in-tended to publish the Report of the Chief Commissioner of Police in the case of Miss Cass; when the decision of the Lord Chancellor with regard to Mr. Newton will be made known; and, whether the Government will take care that no unnecessary delay in relation thereto be permitted?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)

The Papers relating to the case of Miss Cass have been sent to the Law Officers of the Crown for advice on legal points. Care will be taken that no unnecessary delay shall take place in obtaining that advice, and deciding what further proceedings shall be taken in consequence of the advice given. Before the decision is arrived at it is not in my power to say when the Reports of the Chief Commissioner of Police and the Lord Chancellor will be communicated to the House.

MR. JAMES STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)

Will they be laid on the Table of the House?

MR. MATTHEWS

I should judge that if the Reports are published at all they will be published in that shape.

MR. ATHERLEY-JONES

Might I ask whether the Lord Chancellor has arrived at any conclusion; whether the right hon. Gentleman has any knowledge when the Lord Chancellor will arrive at any conclusion; and whether any steps will be taken to prevent the matter being unnecessarily delayed?

MR. MATTHEWS

Certainly, Mr. Speaker. I have already stated to the hon. Gentleman that steps will be taken to prevent any unnecessary delay occurring, and that steps are being taken to get the opinion of the Law Officers. As soon as that opinion is obtained—which, I hope, will be shortly—the decision of the Government will be arrived at.

MR. ATHERLEY-JONES

The right hon. Gentleman has not quite understood me. What I am asking him is with regard to the action of the Lord Chancellor in respect to Mr. Newton, not with regard to the Report of the Chief Commissioner.

MR. MATTHEWS

I have told the hon. Gentleman that the action and decision of the Lord Chancellor cannot be communicated to the House until the Government have decided what further steps they think should be taken in the whole matter.

MR. JAMES STUART

I would ask whether the matter will be before the House before the Civil Service Estimates are concluded?

MR. MATTHEWS

I have every reason to hope so.

MR. HENEAGE (Great Grimsby)

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that the decision of the Lord Chancellor in the case of Mr. Newton has been sent to the Law Officers of the Crown for their opinion?

MR. MATTHEWS

No.

MR. HENEAGE

Then why are we not allowed to have it?

MR. MATTHEWS

If the right hon. Gentleman considers the matter for a moment, he will see that the decision of the Lord Chancellor may very possibly bear a weighty influence on the proceedings that may take place.

MR. ATHERLEY-JONES

I beg to give Notice that I will repeat my Question on Monday.