MR. MAGNIACasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the legal opinion in regard to the question of widening the Suez Canal, which the late Government informed the House was being taken, has yet been obtained; if so, when it and the case submitted, and any other papers bearing upon the question, will be submitted to the House?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. BRYCE)The opinion has not yet been obtained owing to the change of Government. The Reports of the Law Officers of the Crown are confidential Papers, and it would be contrary to usage and precedent to lay them before Parliament. As soon as the communications between Her Majesty's Government and that of Egypt have come to a definite issue Papers will 712 be laid on the Table which will afford full information upon the subject.