§ MR. LEAI beg to ask the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the Motions down on the Order Book praying for the appointment of a Select Committee of this House, with full powers to compel testimony and to send for persons, papers, and records, for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is any truth in the charge of the hon. Member for East St. Pancras that honours are bought and sold in this country; and what action he proposes taking.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI am not aware that any case has been laid before the House for such an inquiry as is suggested, and until the Motions to which reference is made become operative Motions by being brought forward and supported in this House, no occasion arises for taking them into consideration.
§ MR. LEAasked if he was to under-stand that the Motions for inquiry were to be unnoticed on the Order Paper and the country was to be permitted to infer that neither the last nor the present Government dared face any of these Motions.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANdid not think this would be inferred.
‡ See(4) Debates clxxviii, 6671599 When the Motions came on, the Government would know what evidence could be produced and would judge for themselves.
§ MR. LEAasked whether the Prime Minister did not consider this one of the gravest matters that could possibly affect the honour of Parliament and that such allegations ought to be investigated.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThat depends on the case that is made. I do not know what evidence the hon. Member has on which he bases his statements. I have no knowledge of the evidence in the matter, and until I know that I cannot tell what weight to attach to the statements of the hon. Member.
§ MR. LEAMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he would publish an account of the Party funds?