§ MR. LABOUCHEREI beg to ask the first Lord of the Treasury whether, in 1323 view of the statement of the Colonial Secretary that the new fiscal policy suggested by him is one which the Government invites the country and the House to discuss, he will afford an opportunity, and, if so, when and how, for this House to discuss it.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.My hon. friend suggests that the Government ought to give a day for an abstract discussion of this question. I do not take that view. It is open to the Leader of the Opposition, if he desires, to obtain a day, under the conditions I suggested last night; but, no doubt, before this question is settled there will be plenty of opportunities of discussing it in all its bearings.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREIs the discussion in the country to take place before an opportunity is given to discuss the question here, though the Government invited the House to discuss the matter?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not follow the hon. Member. Does he mean that no speech is ever to be made on any subject in the country unless it has received preliminary discussion in the House of Commons? But as a matter of fact there has been discussion in the House of Commons, and some of it last night was of a highly instructive character.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREThese were the words used by the Colonial Secretary when he invited us to discussion—
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order. This is debating the answer; it is not a request for information.
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the proposed inquiry into the advisability of changing the present fiscal system of the United Kingdom, in order to adopt a preferential tariff with the colonies, will be carried on openly before the public; and will he state what precise form the inquiry will take, and whether it will extend its scope to the principles of our fiscal system or be 1324 confined to examination of fact and circumstances.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI answered a Question of similar import yesterday, and I do not suppose my hon. friend wishes me to repeat my answer.† I may say incidentally that in replying to interrogatories in this House, I have gone a great deal farther than any of my predecessors in touching upon the methods by which the Cabinet may pursue one of the many inquiries which a Cabinet have to pursue. I hope now that the subject may be allowed to rest.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe last thing I should desire to do would be to give any answer in this House which would suggest a limitation of the scope of the inquiry which we have undertaken.
§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)As the right hon. Gentleman has referred to his predecessors, may I ask whether there is any precedent for an inquiry by the Cabinet, after the subject has been publicly raised by one Member of the Cabinet?
§ [No answer was returned.]