§ MR. A. C. MORTONI beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether he will lay upon the Table a Copy of the Report of the Procurator Fiscal of Midlothian to the Crown Agent for Scotland, showing the result of his investigations into an accident which took place at Newbattle Collieries on the 20th January, 1893, whereby John Neesam, a workman, was killed; and will he also produce the Report upon the same accident by Her Majesty's Inspector of Mines?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR,) Clackmannan, & c.I cannot lay upon the Table a Copy of the Report of the Procurator Fiscal relative to this matter, as such Reports are confidential, containing as they do the results of inquiry made with a view to considering whether there is ground for criminal proceedings. It will be for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department to say whether the Report by the Inspector of Mines can be produced.
§ MR. A. C. MORTONI beg to ask the Home Secretary now?
§ MR. ASQUITHThe hon. Member must give me notice.