HC Deb 20 February 1890 vol 341 c758
MR. HUNTER (Aberdeen, N.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury when the 10 volumes of Evidence, upon which the Report of the Special Commission is founded, will be issued to Members; and what interval he proposes to allow between the delivery of the Evidence and the day when it is proposed to move that the Report be adopted, and inserted on the Journals of the House?

MR. W. H. SMITH

The evidence of the Special Commission occupies 11 volumes, consisting of the Evidence and the Appendix, and they will probably be followed by a 12th, containing index matter. I am informed that the first 11 volumes could not at the earliest be delivered to Members who may apply for them before March 1. As at present advised, I do not propose to postpone the Motion which stands in my name, as the evidence has been in the Library during the course of the proceedings of the Special Commission, and has been published in the newspapers from day to day.

MR. HUNTER

Is it not the fact that every sentence and almost every line of the Report purports to be based on evidence, and is the House to be asked to consider that Report without being furnished with the evidence on which it is based?

MR. W. H. SMITH

With great respect to the hon. and learned Gentleman, I think he will find that I have answered his question.

MR. P. O'BRIEN (Tipperary, N.)

Will the right hon. Gentleman supply copies of the proceedings to persons in-criminated other than Members of this House?

MR. W. H. SMITH

No application of the kind has been made to me.

MR. P. O'BRIEN

If application is made will they be supplied?

MR. W. H. SMITH

It is open to them to obtain the evidence by purchase.