§ MR. RAMSAY MACDONALD (Leicester)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether his attention has been drawn to the activity of the many associations, other than political parties and candidates, committees, and agents, which took part in the Peckham election; whether he has considered how the expenditure of money which candidates do not declare in their returns, but which affect electoral results, can be rendered illegal so as to comply with the spirit of the Corrupt Practices Act; and whether he would appoint a Commission, with powers to send for documents and persons, to inquire into the actual costs of the Peckham election, and report to this House.
§ THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir W. ROBSON,) South ShieldsI have observed the activity of the associations mentioned by the hon. Member, and I think there can be no doubt that the expenditure to which he refers goes very far towards nullifying the effect of the beneficial provisions of the Corrupt Practices Act relating to the expenditure of candidates and their agents. However, in the present state of the law such expenditure is not prima facie illegal, but I am considering how far it may be possible effectively to limit expenditure of that kind without infringing the popular rights of political propaganda. Of course, hon. Members will appreciate that it is not easy to devise or to apply a scheme which would bring about the real control of expenditure not under the control of the candidates or their agents. However, the matter is one which will certainly engage the very careful attention of the Government. With regard to the Committee for which the hon. Member asks, it is not in my power to appoint such Committees, which must be appointed by statute, and are usually appointed upon some judicial report.
§ MR. MOORE (Armagh, N.)May I have a copy of the Answer?
§ SIR. W. ROBSONThe law officers have no department by which they could secure the drafting of their Answers.
§ SIR BRAMPTON GURDON (Norfolk, N.)Does not every candidate make a solemn declaration that no association or society has spent in connection with his election any money which does not appear in his return?
§ SIR W. ROBSONI do not think he makes that declaration exactly in those terms. He makes a declaration in relation to the money spent in the conduct or management of the election, and it is a question of some nicety as to whether expenses by irresponsible strangers can be called expenses in conducting or managing an election.
§ MR. RAMSAY MACDONALDWould it not be possible to hold some inquiry, even if a Commission was not possible, so that we may get information as to how much was spent over this election?
§ SIR W. ROBSONI do not know of any usual or constitutional form of inquiry which does not involve Parliamentary sanction in the shape of a Bill, or some such form. A Departmental Committee might be appointed, but that would be very unusual in relation to an election.
§ LORD R. CECIL (Marylebone, E.)Would it be impossible to appoint a Select Committee?
§ SIR W. ROBSONWell, it would not be of much use appointing any Committee which had not the power to take evidence on oath. I doubt the appropriateness of a Select Committee to inquire into an election.
§ *MR. R. DUNCAN (Lanarkshire, Govan)asked whether the Government would publish information as to the present state of the law on the subject, for the guidance of candidates.
§ SIR W. ROBSONsaid he believed it to be the impression of successive Governments that it had been made clear in the Corrupt Practices Act.