HC Deb 01 June 1908 vol 189 cc1561-2
MR. GOULDING (Worcester)

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware that no Reports of the Evidence and Memoranda which have been submitted to the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws have yet been issued, though it is understood that many of these volumes are now in print; whether he can arrange for the issue of these. Reports to Members as soon as possible after they are set up in type; and whether he can arrange especially for the issue of those volumes which contain Evidence and Memoranda on unemployment, aged poverty, and infirmity.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BURNS,) Battersea

Perhaps I may be allowed to answer this Question, and to refer to the reply which I gave to a similar Question put to me by the hon. Member for the Govan division on 20th May. As I then indicated, the Royal Commission at the outset of their proceedings, and on subsequent occasions, decided that it would not be advisable to publish the Evidence and Memoranda submitted to them before their Report is issued.

MR. GOULDING

In view of the fact that the sittings may extend over two years, is it intended to keep back all the evidence until it reports, and then dump it down, volume after volume?

* MR. SPEAKER

That is a matter entirely within the discretion of the Commission.