HC Deb 17 May 1909 vol 5 cc18-9
Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

asked the Prime Minister, when the taking of evidence by the Royal Commission on the Welsh Church was completed; when the same was put in the printers' hands; and why it is proposed to publish only two volumes, seeing that the third volume contains the diocesan evidence in support of the case of the Church?

Mr. TALBOT

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now able to give an assurance to the House that all the evidence taken before the Royal Commission on the Church in Wales shall be published simultaneously, so as to give a complete statement of the case of the supporters of the Church establishment as well as of its opponents; and whether he can now state when the Report and Evidence may be expected to be published?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of the HOME OFFICE (Mr. Herbert Samuel)

My right hon. Friends have asked me to answer these questions. I am informed by the Chairman of the Royal Commission that they concluded the taking of evidence on the 15th June, 1908, and that it was all in the printers' hands shortly afterwards. A Royal Commission regulates its own procedure, and until a Report or an Interim Report has been received for submission to His Majesty the Secretary of State has no official cognisance of its proceedings. No such Report has yet been received in this case.

Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

Would the Secretary of State make representations to the Royal Commission that they should publish the whole evidence or none?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

It is not the duty of the Secretary of State to make representations to a Royal Commission.

Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

Has the right hon. Gentleman ascertained that the third volume contains the case of the Church?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

I am informed that the first two volumes contain the evidence of a number of witnesses on behalf of the Church.

Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

Has the Secretary of State been informed that a great deal of evidence on behalf of the Church is included in the third volume?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

I cannot give information on that point.

Lord ROBERT CECIL

Will the hon. Gentleman inquire of the Royal Commission whether it is the intention of the Royal Commission to publish all the evidence?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

The Secretary of State proposes to wait until he receives some official communication from the Royal Commission.