HC Deb 16 May 1911 vol 25 cc1848-9
Mr. GINNELL

Arising out of the answer just given, I beg to ask leave to move the adjournment of the House to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance—namely, the ex parte and secret character of the committee investigating Ireland's financial relations for the sole benefit of the Cabinet; and the refusal of the Government to submit to this House simultaneously all the information submitted or to be submitted to that Committee.

Mr. SPEAKER

I do not think that the matter which the hon. Member proposes to bring before the House is an urgent matter. I understand that this Committee has been appointed by the Cabinet to advise them. Whether the Cabinet will eventually present the Report of that Committee to Parliament or not is another question, but there could be no urgency about the matter. The Cabinet are entitled to take the best advice, and they have selected those persons whom they think will give the best advice.

Mr. GINNELL

The Committee is sitting and the urgency consists in that fact and that it is proposed to pass legislation on their findings. Now or never is the time to call the attention of this House to the matter.

Mr. SPEAKER

Supposing the hon. Member is successful in carrying the Adjournment of the House, what effect would that have? The Committee would still continue to sit. The Committee is appointed by the Cabinet for their own purposes, and surely the Cabinet are entitled to derive all the assistance they can from the considerations of the Committee. The action of the hon. Member would have no effect upon the position of the Cabinet or on the assistance which the Committee would give.

Mr. GINNELL

The object of the Motion would be to have a public Commission appointed in continuation of the Financial Relations Commission of 1894–5.

Mr. SPEAKER

That may or may not be a very proper object, but I do not think it would be carried out by the suggestion of the hon. Member in moving the Adjournment of the House. If the hon. Member puts a Motion down and can find time to raise the question in that way, it would be dealt with by Resolution on a clear issue.