HC Deb 13 August 1885 vol 301 cc11-2
MR. PULESTON

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, If he can give the House any information respecting the Report of the Load Line Committee, and state when it will be published?

THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD (Baron HENRY DE WORMS)

In reply to the hon. Member's Question, I can only say that the Report of the Load Line Committee, which has already been presented to Parliament, will be circulated with the least possible delay. It is now in the hands of the printers. I fear I can give the House no further information on the subject.

MR. CALLAN

I wish to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade, whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Report of the Load Line Committee has been published exclusively in one of the London newspapers this morning; whether that Report has been supplied with his sanction or without his knowledge; and, whether, if it has been supplied without his knowledge, he will institute an investigation as to the culprit who supplied the Report to one newspaper exclusively—a practice which, although habitual with the late Government, is strongly to be deprecated by their Successors?

THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD

My attention has been drawn to the fact that this Report has been published in The Times of this morning. I am at a loss to understand how it was published in The Times. I can only say that there are only two copies in existence. One copy was sent, under seal, in a despatch box, immediately it was received, to Sir Thomas Farrer, who was cruising off the Coast of Scotland; the other copy was sent direct to the Queen's Printers. So strictly have the rules been observed to prevent the premature publication of official Papers, that on inquiry made on behalf of the Board of Trade to the Queen's Printers, with the view of obtaining a copy, they sent back an answer saying that they were unable to supply one without orders from the Treasury. He mentioned these circumstances, in order to show the hon. Member that the publication which had taken place was not in any way due to a fault on the part of the Board of Trade.

MR. CALLAN

Will the hon. Gentleman institute inquiries to find out the delinquent?

THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD

I shall be happy to make inquiries at the Board of Trade; but I do not think I can add anything to the information which I have given to the hon. Member.

MR. PULESTON

Is the Report which has appeared in The Times the Report of the Committee.

THE SECReTARY TO THE BOARD

I have not seen the original Report of the Committee, and therefore I cannot say whether they are identical.

MR. PULESTON

I understood the hon. Gentleman to say that he has not seen the Report. Is it the practice of the Department to send a Report to the Queen's Printers before the Department has perused it?

THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD

The Report was sent to the Duke of Richmond in proof, and then, on its return, it was sent direct to the Queen's Printers. It did not pass through my hands.