HC Deb 20 May 1908 vol 189 cc279-80
MR. R. DUNCAN (Lanarkshire, Govan)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether there is any prospect of the Report of the Royal Commissioners on the Poor Laws and Relief of Distress being presented before the rising of the House in August; and, if not, whether it is intended that any interim Report of evidence submitted to the Commissioners will be presented and made available, and when the completed Report is expected to be presented and available to Members.

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

The Royal Commission have just finished hearing evidence and are now considering their Report. They are not without hope that they may be able to present it in the autumn, but it is impossible to give a precise date by which it will be issued. The reply to the latter part of the Question is in the negative. The Commissioners at the outset of their proceedings, and on subsequent occasions, decided that it would not be advisable to publish the Evidence before the Report.