HC Deb 26 April 1883 vol 278 cc1163-4
LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

Sir, I have received 150 Petitions from officers of the Inland Revenue with regard to the Circular issued by the Treasury; and I now wish to ask if the Chancellor of the Exchequer will guarantee that the parties who have signed those Petitions, which are perfectly in Order, and the form of which I may say was submitted to the Speaker before being signed, shall be in no way punished, molested, threatened, or interfered with, directly or indirectly, by the Inland Revenue Board?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)

The noble Lord asked precisely the same Question some short time ago. ["No!"] At all events, it was the same in spirit, if not in words. He was not satisfied with my answer, and appealed to you, Sir, on the subject, and you ruled that the Question had been answered. To that answer I have nothing to add.

LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

Is the House to understand that the Chancellor of the Exchequer will give no guarantee that the Government will not interfere with public servants petitioning the House of Commons?

Subsequently,

MR. RAIKES

said: With reference to the Question of the noble Lord (Lord Randolph Churchill), to which the Chancellor of the Exchequer has made no reply, I should like to ask him, having regard to the very great importance of the Question, if he can give the House any assurance with regard to these Petitions that the Government would not take any course which must bring the Executive into collision with the Privileges of the House of Commons?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)

My simple answer to that would be that the Government will certainly take no course which would bring the Executive into collision with the Privileges of this House. But the Question was asked before, and you, Sir, gave such a plain answer as to the conditions on which Petitions should be presented, that I considered the matter had been fully determined.

LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

Certain Members, Sir, are not aware of the exact nature of the statement you made; and I would like, therefore, to ask you, Sir, whether any interference by a Minister of the Crown with any person presenting a Petition to this House in regular form is not a high breach of the Privileges of this House?

MR. SPEAKER

I am bound to answer all Questions on points of Order as they arise; but I am not bound to deal with hypothetical cases.