§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he will lay upon the Table all the Papers relating to the death of Michael Watters, of Crossmaglen, in Mountjoy Prison?
§ MR. TREVELYANI cannot undertake to lay these Papers on the Table. It would be contrary to practice to make public confidential official Reports of this character.
§ MR. HEALYMr. Speaker, I wish to ask you a Question on a point of Order. Is it in conformity with the practice of Parliament for the Chief Secretary to refuse to lay upon the Table Papers from which both he and the Solicitor General read long extracts on the occasion of a recent debate in this House? I also wish to know whether it is not a right of this House to have Papers which are quoted left upon the Table?
§ MR. TREVELYAN(who rose amid cries of "Order"): I presume, Sir, that I may interpose in this Question before you answer it. The Question of the hon. Member was whether I would lay all the Papers relating to the death of Michael Watters on the Table? I have no objection, Sir, to lay upon the Table any Papers that were quoted from.
§ MR. HEALYI am glad that the right hon. Gentleman will lay some of these Papers on the Table, as, in the first instance, he declined to lay any at all. 669 I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will be kind enough to state what Papers he will lay on the Table?
§ MR. TREVELYANI will gladly lay on the Table any Papers which either I or the Solicitor General have quoted from.