§ MR. HOYLE (Lancashire, S.E., Heywood)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, If it is possible to give Members of Parliament and the general public the benefit of a daily publication of the evidence given before Royal Commissions and Select Committees of both Houses of Parliament?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster), in reply, said, the hon. Gentleman seemed to be under the impression that the Government had authority over the proceedings of Royal Commissions and Committees of the House, and that it was open to them to secure the publication of the evidence given before such Bodies when they thought proper. That, however, was not the case. In some instances, Royal Commissions allowed reporters to be present at their proceedings; but the evidence could not be made public until it was submitted to Her Majesty. As regarded Committees of the House, reporters were occasionally allowed to be present, and even then the Report of the Committee was considered confidential until it was submitted to the House.