§ Lord ROBERT CECILasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will lay upon the Table the general estimate which has been prepared for the Government of the number of valuers necessary to carry out the valuation under the Finance Bill, and the amount of the salaries payable to them?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEMy right hon. Friend feels that the proper occasion on which to communicate to the House the proposals of the Government in regard to the staff required in connection with the valuation contemplated by the Finance Bill will not arise until the Bill has become law. He regrets, therefore, that, he cannot comply with the Noble Lord's request.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILMay I ask you, Sir, whether it is not a rule of this House that where any hon. Member refers to a document he is bound to produce it for inspection?
§ Mr. SPEAKEROf course, if a Minister quotes from an official document he is bound to lay it upon the Table. That is a very well known rule.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILIn view of that rule, will not the right hon. Gentleman and his colleagues reconsider the answer he has just given?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSENo, because I did not quote from the document.