HC Deb 20 May 1903 vol 122 cc1223-4
MR. JOHN REDMOND

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he expects to be able to announce the appointment of the Royal Commission on trade disputes, which I understand has been promised, before Whitsuntide; and whether the right hon. Gentleman will see that there is a representative of Ireland on the Commission.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I hope to be able to make a statement with regard to the Commission before the holidays. But I cannot give a pledge as to its composition until I am able to make an announcement as to the character of the Commission—whether it is to be merely a judicial Commission, as suggested by the right hon. Baronet the Member for the Forest of Dean, or one of those larger Commissions which have their advantages, but are not so expeditious or so satisfactory. It is only in the latter case, I assume, that the hon. Gentleman would require a representative of a particular country or a particular interest.