HC Deb 13 July 1908 vol 192 c417
MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.)

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will grant the return on Scottish Estimates (Debates).

[Mr. PIRIE—Scottish Estimates (Debates)—Return showing the last dates on which the Votes were passed, after discussion in this House, in the case of each of the following Scottish Votes:—Lunacy Commission, Registrar-General's Office, Register House, Prisons Commission, National Galleries Board, Crofters Commission, Congested Districts Boards, Law Charges and Courts of Law, Public Education, Scotland, and the number of days given to the actual discussion of Scottish Estimates during each of the last ten years, and the annual average number of parliamentary days during the last twenty years.]

MR. SINCLAIR

I regret that I am unable to consent to this Return for the reasons given to my hon. friend on 8th July.

MR. PIRIE

May I ask from what source this information is obtainable?

MR. SINCLAIR

From the Journals of the House, from reports of our debates, and from Hansard.

MR. PIRIE

Who is responsible for refusing this Return?

MR. SINCLAIR

I suppose I am.

MR. PIRIE

Are we to understand that the right hon. Gentleman is more anxious to withhold information required by the people of Scotland than to give information which will show the neglect of Scottish business by this House?

*MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member is not entitled to make statements of that nature under cover of a Question.