§ MR. T. M. HEALYI wish to make a complaint of the non-distribution of an important Blue-Book this morning. I allude to the Report and evidence of the inquiry into the treatment of treason-felony prisoners, John Daly and others in Chatham prison. I think Irish Members have reason to complain of having to sign a formal document to obtain copies of every Irish paper, including Land Commission Reports, and this causes great inconvenience. I should have thought that, seeing the attention that has been drawn to this particular Report, it would naturally have been distributed to all Members. It is well, I think, that English Members should have no impediment put in the way of their obtaining information upon Irish matters. We have pressed for this Report, time after time, and yet when it is ready we do not receive it unless we sign a special demand for it. It is a "penny wise and pound foolish" course to follow, and will only lead to Members making a general demand for all papers.
§ MR. JACKSONThere is no different treatment for papers relating to Ireland. The matter does not rest with me, but I may say it is open to all Members to have papers sent to them by simply giving instructions. Papers of general interest are distributed, but, as to others, it is impossible to make a selection to meet the wishes of individual Members.
§ MR. J. SINCLAIR (Ayr)There are many papers which are not distributed, but which we ought to receive. The complaint does not attach to Irish papers only. The Education Codes for England and Scotland are not distributed unless a demand is made, but I think that it is 416 obvious such papers as these are required I think that a better selection should be made, and that papers relating to a particular part of the country should be sent to Members who represent that part.
§ MR. H. H. FOWLER (Wolverhampton, E)I think the Secretary to the Treasury is wrong in saying a selection cannot be made. Until the last two years we had the "long" and the "short" list. It was a convenient arrangement, and I am sorry it was departed from. I was always opposed to this "red paper" system. We simply do not get the information we ought to have because we do not happen to have signed a demand, and an official takes such an estimate of his duty as excludes the sending of particular papers. The present practice is inconvenient, and does not in reality secure any economy, for the expense is in the setting up of the Blue Books, and not in the number, a few more or less, that happen to be used. I served on the Committee appointed by the Treasury in reference to the Stationery Department, and I came to the conclusion that the extravagance in this Department is not in connection with Parliamentary papers, but elsewhere. I only wish the right hon. Gentleman the First Lord would take the matter in hand, and I am sure there would be much less ground for complaint.