MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will agree to a Return 467 showing the British orders of knighthood, decorations, honorific distinctions, crosses and medals now in existence, with the respective dates of their institution; and whether His Majesty's Ministers are responsible for the grant of peerages and baronetcies, and the distribution of the orders and other honorific distinctions in question.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD of THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)I venture to depreciate my hon. friend's request for this official information. As I have said before in answer to a Question of his, these inquiries are so closely connected with the Prerogative of the Crown that I am disposed to think it better not to make them a subject of Question and Answer in the House.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the Prerogatives of the Crown have been frequently discussed in the debates of this House for 800 years?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURYes, and they may be again; but I do not think anything is gained by Question and Answer upon the subject.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIt is the second part which perhaps more closely touches upon the subject.