§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the proceedings before the Brussels Sugar Commission are open to the Press; and, if not, whether a full report will be issued before the Government proceed with the Sugar Convention Bill; whether any particular instructions have been given as to the action of the British delegates in case the Austro-Hungarian allotment system should be condemned by the Commission; and whether, in such an eventuality, it would be possible for this country to withdraw altogether from the Convention.
§ LORD CRANBORNEI understand that the proceedings are not public, but that, as at the Brussels Conference, a report will be drawn up by a Committee for communication to the Press. It is impossible to foresee how long the present discussions of the Commission may last, and the Bill now before Parliament must be passed during the present session. No undertaking such as that alluded to could therefore be given. The answer to the last two paragraphs of the Question is in the negative.
§ MR. LOUGHWill the noble Lord promise that a full report of the proceedings shall be laid before Parliament as soon as possible?
§ LORD CRANBORNEI cannot give that undertaking at this moment.