HC Deb 26 July 1900 vol 86 cc1299-301
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been directed to the statement of Lord Justice Romer at the opening of the sitting of the South African Hospitals Commission, that he or his colleagues had been appointed by the warrant of the Prime Minister; and whether he can say what authority the Prime Minister has for the issue of such a warrant; and will he have-any objection to lay a copy of this document upon the Table.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.

The Commission to which the hon. Gentleman refers is now a Royal Commission. Any Secretary of State, as the hon. Member is aware, has power to appoint a Commission.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Was Lord Justice Romer correct or incorrect when he said that he was acting under the wan-ant of the Prime Minister?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

He certainly received the warrant of the Prime Minister.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

What was the authority of the Prime Minister to give that warrant?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

He is Secretary of State.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

It should have been a warrant from the Crown. I beg now to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he will state why the South-African Hospitals Commission was not created by statute and invested by statute with powers of examining witnesses on oath, enforcing the attendance of witnesses, and procuring documents.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

There will be no difficulty in getting sufficient evidence. I certainly should not suggest the unusual course of making this a Statutory Commission until the necessity for it is demonstrated. Her Majesty gave her consent to this being a Royal Commission on the evening of Monday. I received it on Tuesday morning.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Was not the Pigott Commission a Statutory Commission?

MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Commission to-report on the arrangements for the care and treatment of the sick and wounded in South Africa has commenced its inquiry by virtue of a warrant issued by the Prime Minister; and, if so, what is the nature of this warrant, and by what authority, statutory or otherwise, has it been issued; whether it is intended to supersede this warrant by the issue of a Royal Commission; and, if so, when will the Royal Commission be issued; and, whether, seeing that compulsory powers to compel the attendance and examination of witnesses can be given by Parliament alone, he will at once introduce a Bill to confer these powers on the Commission, in accordance with numerous precedents.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have answered this question already.

MR. PICKERSGILL

When was the Royal Warrant issued?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Her Majesty gave her assent on Monday evening, and I received it on Tuesday morning.