§ Mr. BELLOCasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the publication in "The Times" newspaper upon Wednesday, the 21st, of certain Cabinet decisions relative to the Budget; whether the details so published were authorised to be published by the Government; and, if not, whether any steps have been taken to discover through what channel the information was conveyed?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, Sir, my attention has been called to the paragraph in question. These conjectural divinations of alleged Cabinet decisions should be received with caution—especially at this time of the year. The Government, of course, had nothing to do with this particular publication.
§ Mr. BELLOCMay I ask for an answer to the last thing in my question, in view of the fact that it has never happened before in the whole history of English journalism—no, never?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have said that the Government had nothing to do with it.
§ Mr. BELLOCHave any steps been taken to ascertain how Lord Northcliffe got the information?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWhat information?
§ Mr. BELLOCThe information he printed as coming from the Cabinet?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have already said that it was a pure matter of conjecture.
§ Mr. BELLOCIt was not printed so.