HC Deb 18 March 1901 vol 91 cc256-7
MR. ROCHE

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the recent unauthorised publication of documents laid before the Civil List Committee, he will consider whether effect should now be given to the recommendation of the Cottage Homes Bill Committee that the representative of the offending newspaper should be deprived of the entrée to the Lobby.

MR, YOUNG (Cavan, E.)

At the same time may I ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the frequent unauthorised publication of official documents by The Times newspaper, he will now act upon the advice of the Cottage Homes Bill Committee and exclude its Parliamentary correspondent from the Lobby.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

In answer to these questions, I do not think I need do more than remind both hon. Members that this matter has been brought under the notice of Mr. Speaker, and that it will no doubt be dealt with by him as circumstances render desirable.

MR. ROCHE

Then I will respectfully address my question to you, Mr. Speaker.

*MR. SPEAKER

It is not a question of order or procedure, and such questions alone should be addressed to me.

MR. ROCHE

May I remind the House that the recommendation of the Committee was that the Lobby representatives of newspapers who published privileged documents should be excluded from the inner lobbies of the House?

*MR. SPEAKER

The House has entrusted to me the superintendence of the admission of the representatives of the press to the Lobby; but it will be impossible for me to perform that duty if I am to be questioned on the exercise of my discretion as though I were a Minister performing Ministerial duties.

MR. O'SHEE

Then how, Sir, will you intimate to the House the course which you have taken?

*MR. SPEAKER

When I do intimate it, the hon. Member will know.

MR. ROCHE

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General whether it is proposed that the Government will institute proceedings under the Official Secrets Act against the newspaper in which publication was given to the confidential documents laid before the Civil List Committee.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (SIR ROBERT FINLAY,) Inverness Burghs

I cannot add anything to the answer I gave the other day to the hon. Member for Dundee.†