HC Deb 13 August 1885 vol 301 cc24-5
MR. CAUSTON

I wish to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer a Question in reference to the proposed Royal Commission on the Depression of Trade in consequence of his answer the other night as to the scope of the inquiry. I wish to ask him, as this Commission is not so much for the purpose of deciding or settling on a policy as to ascertain and collate facts, why this work could not have been undertaken by the officers of the Board of Trade, and considerable delay and expense saved?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

This work has not been done by the officers of the Board of Trade because we thought it would be better done by a Royal Commission.