SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL&c.) (Kirkcaldy,asked the First Lord of the Treasury, with reference to the Members of Parliament (Charges and Allegations) Bill, With whom it is intended that there shall rest the function of collecting evidence, prosecuting charges, and especially of deciding who are to be examined as witnesses and protected from punishment for crime (on condition of full disclosure), and who are to be left liable to criminal prosecution; whether these functions are to be entirely performed by the Commissioners themselves; or, if not, whether the Government is to prosecute charges and determine who are to be examined as witnesses and pardoned, or whether the defendants in the action of "O'Donnell v. Walter" or any other private parties are to be permitted to do so?
THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H, SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)If the hon. Gentleman will be so good as to read the Bill which establishes the Commission he will see that all the functions he alludes to rest with the Commissioners, and certainly the Government is not the prosecutor in the case. The hon. Member is probably aware of the manner in which such inquiries are usually conducted by Royal Commissions; but if he has any doubt on the question I may refer him to the practice of the Commission appointed to investigate the charges against the Metropolitan Board of Works.
§ THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (Mr. SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)Is it, then, to be understood that parties appearing before the Commission will not be entitled to call what witnesses they like; but that the function will rest with the Commission to say whom they will examine and whom they will exclude from certificates?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHIf the hon. Member will look at the Bill he will see for himself. I cannot add anything whatever to the information it contains.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLsaid, he had compared the Bill with similar Commissions in which he had taken part; and he wished to ask whether there was to be any Executive officer at the disposal of the Commissioners for the purpose of prosecuting inquiries, collecting evidence, and exercising the functions of a prosecutor.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHThe hon. Gentleman must be satisfied with the information given by the Bill as to the powers of the Commissioners. As in the past, they are of the most extensive character, and the Commissioners can direct anything they think fit.