§ MR. ADKINS (Lancashire, Middleton)I beg to ask the hon. Member for the Holmfirth Division of Yorkshire, as Chairman of the Select Committee on Public Petitions, whether the Committee appointed to inspect petitions presented to this House have any means of ascertaining whether signatures not affixed to the particular sheet containing the prayer and substance of the petition are or are not those of persons who are aware to what petition their signatures have been subsequently attached.
§ MR. H. J. WILSON (Yorkshire, W. R., Holmfirth)There are no moans at present of ascertaining what my hon. friend desires to know. Everything depends on the good faith of those who promote the petitions.
§ MR. ADKINSMay I ask if the hon. Gentleman will take steps to see that no petitions are sent in which are not actually signed on the paper containing the prayer of the petition?
§ MR. H. J. WILSONI dare say some means could be devised to deal with that. I will bring the matter before the Committee.
§ MR. ADKINSWill the Committee investigate the extraordinary phenomena presented by the extensive identity of signatures to the petitions against the Education Bill?
§ MR. H. J. WILSONIt is the duty of the officials in the Petitions Office to draw attention to such cases, but if the hon. Member can name specific cases, I will cause inquiry to be made.