§ MR. BLAKE (Longford, S.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can now cite the precedents on which he relies for the proposed issue of a Royal Commission empowering the nominees of the Ministry to investigate into its political laches or conduct, or that of any of its members, either without or with the concurrence of the House of Commons or of Parliament.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI rather imagined that the hon. Member would not put this Question. I thought he belonged to that section of the House which considers that the conduct of the Government should be discussed by the House, before the evidence is taken, on a vote of censure. But if it is to be discussed in both ways, I may in regard to precedents remind him of the Beck case, the South African War Commission, the Military Hospitals Commission, the Ordnance Commission, 1886, and the Fugitives Slaves Commission, 1876