HC Deb 22 June 1903 vol 124 cc86-7
MR. TREVELYAN (Yorkshire, W.R., Elland)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he has examined the precedent for an inquiry into proposals for fiscal changes in this country afforded by the Select Committee on Import Duties, 1840, which took evidence in public and published its Report, and upon which the Government were represented by two Ministers, one of Cabinet rank; and whether he will consider the advantages of this method of inquiry over the proposed method.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I certainly do not lay down the dogmatic proposition that an inquiry by a Committee of this House would be necessarily an improper way of approaching this subject, or parts of this subject; but I do not think anything would be gained by appointing a Committee in the course of the present session.

MR. BLACK

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will from time to time issue in Blue-book form, the statistical information obtained by the Cabinet in their inquiry into the Colonial Secretary's proposal for a revision of the fiscal arrangements of this country.

MR. LABOUCHERE

At the same time may I ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether some public notice will be given of the time when oral evidence is to be received upon the fiscal inquiry, in order that those connected with the working classes may have an opportunity to tender their evidence; whether such oral evidence is to be submitted to the Cabinet, or to any person or persons appointed to receive it; and whether all materials used and all evidence taken, either orally or in writing, will be made public as early as possible, and at such a time is to ensure that the question of a fundamental change in our present fiscal arrangements will not be submitted to an unprepared Party and the unprepared constituencies.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not contemplate giving any undertaking with regard to this inquiry.

MR. BLACK

Do I understand that the Government will only give such information as suits themselves?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

No, Sir, the hon. Gentleman is to understand what I said, which is that I would not give any undertaking on the subject.