§ MR. BROADHURSTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, having reference to his reply on the same subject last Session, The cause of the delay in presenting the Report of the Royal Livery Commission; whether he will take steps to prevent further delay in its presentation, considering that on 12th July 1883 the Report was formulated, and that the sittings of the Commission were deferred for something like nine months, and that only a few meetings have been held this year; and, if he would explain to the House the reasons for this delay?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTMy hon. Friend asks me whether I will take steps to prevent further delay in the presentation of this Report; but I would point out that when the Queen appoints a Royal Commission I have no control over them. Therefore, all I can do is to inquire how they are getting on. I have so inquired, and I am informed that the Report is one of great complexity, and the evidence is very voluminous, so that the compilation of the document must necessarily be a work of time. The sittings have been delayed by the absence of one or two eminent Members; but the main Report is already complete, and a separate Report is now being drawn up.