§ MR. PENNINGTONasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, in view of the exceptional experience of Miss Octavia Hill on questions relating to the housing of the poor, he will consider the advisability of her being appointed to serve on the Royal Commission which is about to inquire into the subject?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, there can be no doubt as to the exceptional experience of Miss Hill, and I have myself for the last 13 years had personal knowledge of her excellent system. I may, however, point out to the House that the experience of highly skilled persons is often more valuable when they have an opportunity of giving evidence before a Royal Commission than when they are themselves Commissioners.
§ SIR R. ASSHETON CROSSThe Prime Minister stated on Tuesday last, in answer to a Question whether the inquiries of the Commission on the dwellings of the poor would extend to Scotland and Ireland as well as to England, that he had not then an opportunity of consulting the right hon. Gentleman near him. I now wish to ask him the following Question, of which I have given him private Notice, Whether the Royal Commission will extend its inquiries to Ireland and Scotlnnd; and, if so, whether it is not desirable that an Irish and a Scotch Member should be placed on the Commission?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEInquiry will, no doubt, have to be made, either now or later, into the housing of the working classes in Scotland and Ireland. If the Royal Commission, at its preliminary meeting, should decide to consider at an early date the question of the housing of the working classes in either Scotland or Ireland generally an addition to the Royal Commission 1872 will probably be recommended to the Queen.
§ MR. STUART-WORTLEYIs there anything in the practice of Royal Commissions to prevent a Member of such Commission giving evidence?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEOn Committees of the House it is not unusual, but I do not think it is very usual on a Royal Commission. I do not know, however, that there is anything to prevent it.
§ MR. R. POWERasked why there was no Irish Member of the existing Commission?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEAs regards the Irish inhabitants of this country, I think they would have confidence in the name of Cardinal Manning; but as regards Irishmen in Ireland, I think that would be very much a matter for the Commission to consider.
§ MR. ILLINGWORTHSeeing the personality of the Commission has been referred to, may I ask, as there is a Bishop of the Episcopal Church of England and a Roman Catholic Prelate on the Commission, whether the right hon. Gentleman does not think it desirable that some influential person connected with the Nonconformists should also be appointed a Member?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEWithout in the least admitting that it has any bearing on the question, I may state that, as a matter of fact, there are several Nonconformists on the Commission.
§ MR. ILLINGWORTHBut not clergymen.
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKENo, Sir; and I say at once that Cardinal Manning is not a Member of the Commission as the head of the Roman Catholic Church in this country, nor the Bishop of Bedford as a Prelate of the Episcopal Church; but they have been nominated, not because they represent largo communities, but because they have taken great interest in, and thoroughly understand, the question.
§ MR. CARBUTTasked the right hon. Gentleman whether there was any objection to place a lady on a Royal Commission?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEThat is hardly a Question for me to answer, as it has nothing to do with the duties of my Department. But there is nothing, so far as I know, to prevent a lady being put on a Royal Commission.