HC Deb 24 June 1907 vol 176 cc906-8
MR. MENZIES (Lanarkshire, S.)

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether each Member of this House receives a Minute of the Proceedings of the Grand Scottish Committee on the second morning following the sitting; whether that information is supplemented by ample reports in northern newspapers; whether the estimated expense of reporting debates in this House for this year is £4,500 higher than last year; what estimated increase of expenditure would be necessary to give reports of speeches delivered in each of the four Grand Committees, equal to Hansard reports of speeches delivered in this House; and whether any public object would be gained if they were published.

THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Sir H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN, Stirling Burghs)

The facts are, I believe, as stated, but I am unable to give my hon. friend an estimate of the probable cost of reporting and printing the proceedings of the Standing Committees. The final part of the Question deals with a matter of opinion.

MR. LAURENCE HARDY (Kent, Ashford)

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that very important rulings upon questions of procedure and closure are daily being made in the Scottish Grand Committee, and would it not be desirable, in view of a similar procedure being adopted in all the Committees, to secure an official report of these proceedings?

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

My experience has been that these rulings, if important, are reported.

MR. LAURENCE HARDY

Where?

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

In the public prints.

MR. LAURENCE HARDY

In what official document? May I ask whether there are any means open to any hon. Member of this House of discovering in the library of the House what these rulings are?

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I do not know that there are any official reports, but there are other reports.

VISCOUNT TURNOUR

Will the right hon, Gentleman say what other reports?

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

There are ample reports in the Scotsman and the Glasgow Herald.

MR. LAURENCE HARDY

Does the right hon. Gentleman, then, intend that English Members must read the Scottish papers in order to get the information?

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I think it would be much to their advantage if they did so.