MR. J. W. LOWTHER (Cumberland, Penrith)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cause of the delay in the publication and circulation of the Report of the Royal Commission upon Mining Royalties, which was laid upon the Table of the House on the 7th April; and will he endeavour to accelerate the Department responsible, in order that the Report may be in the hands of the public without further delay?
§ MR. ASQUITHThe delay in the issue of this Report is in consequence of the Papers not having been presented yet to the House of Lords. The rule is that no Paper presented to Parliament by command of Her Majesty can be distributed until all formalities of presentation are complete, and the completion notified in the Minutes of both Houses. I understand that the Report will be 564 presented to the House of Lords on their meeting to-day and that it will be circulated in a few days.
MR. J. W. LOWTHERCan the right hon. Gentleman say how it was that in The Times of April 8 there appeared what purported to be a copy of the Report of the Royal Commission?
§ MR. ASQUITHNo, Sir. I cannot.