§ MR. JOHN O'CONNOR (Tipperary, S.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether the evidence given before the Special Commission has been yet presented to Parliament; and whether it is to be accessible to the public in the usual way on payment; and, if not, by what authority are the volumes now being distributed to Members?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHThe evidence given before the Special Commission has not been made a Parliamentary Paper, 1777 but copies are obtainable by the Members of both Houses on application at the Library or the Public Bill Office. The number of copies printed will probably only be sufficient to meet the applications of Members of Parliament; and if there is any general desire on the part of the public to obtain copies by purchase it would be necessary to reprint the volumes, which would involve considerable delay and a large expenditure of public money. In redemption of a pledge given by me on the 20th ult., all the copies which are available have been placed at the disposal of Members on their application.
§ MR. HUNTER (Aberdeen, N.)Arising out of that answer, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the type has been broken up; and, if so, why it was broken up?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI believe that, as a matter of fact, it has been broken up. It was broken tip some time ago. Copies were printed at the request of the Special Commission; but it is not contemplated to print additional copies of thy evidence.
§ MR. J. O'CONNORBy whose authority were they distributed?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHThey were distributed to Members who applied for them in consequence of the pledge which was given to hon. Members in February.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)Does not the right hon. Gentleman propose that the evidence on which the Report of the Commission is founded shall be laid on the Table of the House?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHNo; I do not propose to lay it on the Table.
§ MR. MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many copies were distributed?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHNo; I am not able to say.