§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government are aware of the name of the man who handed the parcel of explosives to John Daly immediately before his arrest; whether this man was in the pay of the police; whether he disappeared from Liverpool immediately after Daly's arrest; and whether the 49 Government knows his present where abouts?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. ASQUITH, Fife, E.)The question of the hon. Member is one which, with all respect to him, I must, in accordance with uniform practice, and in the public interest, decline to answer. My refusal to do so rests upon grounds of general policy, and will not justify any inference as to what, if I were able to answer, my answer in this particular case would be.
§ MR. W. REDMOND (Clare, E.)May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman's refusal to answer is based on a knowledge of facts in his possession which, if the question were answered, would make out a case for Daly's release?
§ [No answer was given.]
§ MR. W. REDMONDAs the right hon. Gentleman is not sufficiently courageous to answer my question, I give him notice that it will be brought forward again and again until the right hon. Gentleman changes the cold-blooded attitude which he has adopted.
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!