HC Deb 08 June 1888 vol 326 cc1536-7
MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he will ask Mr. Monro, of Scotland Yard, for some explanation of his statement in reference to the charge that suspected strangers were introduced to the House on an order procured through the Speaker's Secretary by the hon. Member for Bermondsey (Mr. Lafone), which that hon. Member contradicts; whether the order is in existence; and, what is the proof which exists for Mr. Monro's assertion?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)

The statements made by Mr. Monro were made, in the first instance, in answer to unexpected questions put to him by Members of the Committee, and without the opportunity of refreshing his memory with documents. He, therefore, spoke doubtfully in Answers 593 to 598, and 785 to 788; and was accordingly requested by the right hon. Member for the Bridgeton Division of Glasgow (Sir George Trevelyan) to put into the evidence, when sent to him for correction, the name of the person who signed the order of admission to the House. This addition to the evidence the hon. and learned Member will find in the last sentence of Answer 789, in these words— Having since inspected the ticket, I find that it was not signed by Mr. Lafone, but by the Speaker's Secretary, and that it was stated to have been given to the visitor by Mr. Lafone. It was the visitor himself, when the ticket was taken from him by the police, and his admission thereby prevented, who stated that the ticket had been given to him by Mr. Lafone. The contradiction of the hon. Member for Bermondsey is conclusive against the truth of the statement of this visitor, which was quoted by Mr. Monro. The order is in existence.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Is there any objection to produce the order?

MR. MATTHEWS

I do not think I can produce the order.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Was the Speaker's Secretary asked by the Committee for the order?

MR. MATTHEWS

Not so far as I am aware. The matter came out incidentally, and was treated by the noble Viscount (Viscount Ebrington)—the Chairman—as not requiring to be further inquired into. There is nothing whatever to identify those orders.