§ LORD E. CECILI beg to ask the Prime Minister whether it is proposed to take any criminal proceedings against Madeley or McCarthy in connection with the irregularities disclosed in Mr. Davy's Report on the Poplar Union.
§ * SIR JOHN WALTONreplied that the evidence had not yet been printed, and there had therefore not been sufficient opportunity for considering it and arriving at any conclusion.
§ LORD R. CECILWhen will the evidence be published?
§ * SIR JOHN WALTONI should think in a few days. It is being printed.
§ LORD R. CECILHas the matter not been considered in the case of Madeley?
§ * SIR JOHN WALTONNo. That case will be considered when the whole evidence is available.
SIR GILBERT PARKEROn behalf of the hon. Member for the Walton Division of Liverpool, I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he will afford the House an early opportunity of discussing the Poplar Report.
§ MR KEIR HARDIEAt the same time I will ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the interest excited by the Report of the Local 128 Government Board on the administration of the Poor Law in Poplar, and the deterrent effect which it is likely to have on other boards of guardians who are endeavouring to administer the Poor Law in a humane spirit, he will give this House an early opportunity of considering and pronouncing upon the same.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe Report is not made by the Local Government Board, but to that Board by one of their officers, and I do not understand that it is proposed to call in question any action on the part of my right hon. friend the President in regard to the Report. Indeed. I am informed that at present no such action can be taken. In the circumstances, and looking to the demands on the time of the Government, I cannot see my way to comply with the request.
§ MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)I know the right hon. Gentleman sympathises with our efforts, and I would ask him whether we cannot have some guidance as to how we are to treat people who are out of work and who need food. Surely that is not an unreasonable request, having regard to the general feeling in the whole of London, quite apart from any irregularities?
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThat is a question of policy which hardly arises out of the Question.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEIs the Prime Minister aware that in addition to the administration of workhouse affairs important points connected with the relief of the unemployed are involved, and in view of that could he not arrange for the Report's being considered?
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANIf we had abundance of time and nothing else to do we might provide a day for the discussion of these questions of high policy, which really cannot be pushed into a corner and considered in such time as would be available during the present session.