HC Deb 21 February 1890 vol 341 cc881-2
MR. LABOUCHERE

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Reports of Le Caron to Mr. Anderson, which were paid for with public moneys, and which were lent to Le Caron, are now in safe official keeping; and whether Le Caron has received any further money from the Government since he gave his evidence before the late Special Commission?

MR. C. GRAHAM

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers the question, I should like to ask whether Le Caron was employed for the first time by the present Government; or whether he was passed over to them as a legacy by their predecessors?

MR. MATTHEWS

All the material facts connected with Le Caron were stated in his evidence before the Special Commission, to which I will refer the hon. Member. In reply to the question on the Paper, I have to say that I am informed that the documents which were placed at the disposal of Le Caron for the purpose of enabling him to give his evidence have all been returned to Mr. Anderson. The answer to the second question is in the negative.

MR. LABOUCHERE

May I ask whether, considering that Mr. Anderson surrendered the letters to Le Caron without permission from the Home Office, the right hon. Gentleman thinks that the documents are in safe official keeping with him?

MR. MATTHEWS

I think I am in a position to show conclusively that there was no breach of confidence.

MR. COBB

Did I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say last Session that Mr. Anderson had kept no list of the documents; and, if so, how could he know that Le Caron had given them all back?

MR. MATTHEWS

I have no recollection of Mr. Anderson making any such statement.