§ MR. BERESFORD HOPEasked the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he can state when the Report of the Commission on Ecclesiastical Courts will be distributed; and, whether he can account for the delay in its publication? The right hon. Gentleman added that he had seen a précis in the papers; but the Report itself was net forthcoming.
§ MR. HIBBERT,in reply, said, the Report would not be ready for distribution for a few days. The delay had occurred owing to certain Commissioners having appended reservations since the last meeting of the Commission, and to Lord Penzance having written a separate Report. As to a précis of the Report having been published in several newspapers, he had to say he had communicated with the Secretary to the Commission, and he had written disclaiming any part in the publication. The Home Office were only supplied with one copy, and that still remained there. He could not explain the publication unless the information had been furnished by some Member of the Commission. He wished also to state that the Copy of the Report which appeared in the public papers was not a correct copy; it was a copy of a Report which was issued some time ago.