MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether a Departmental Committee has been appointed to consider and report on naval prize law, and, if so, whether that committee is empowered to consider and to recommend alterations in the Law of Nations; whether the Admiralty or the Cabinet Committee of Defence will be consulted by the Committee; and whether he will undertake that, before His Majesty's Government commits itself to any alteration in the Law of Nations, a statement of such alteration shall be laid before this House, and an opportunity given for its discussion.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)An inter-Departmental Committee has been appointed to discuss the question of the preparation of a digest of the leading cases in naval prize law for the use of Colonial Prize Courts and the revision of the instructions to Navy officers on the question of prizes. The Committee are not empowered to consider or recommend alterations in the Law of Nations.