§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Prime Minister whether the Government promised that the Royal Commission appointed to investigate and report on the working of the Railway Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme of 1907 should be so constituted that a Report making recommendations in a certain direction should be assured?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)The answer is in the negative.
§ Viscount WOLMERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hon. Member for Merthyr (Mr. Keir Hardie) made an allegation to that effect in a pamphlet?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir; I know nothing about it; but it is totally unfounded.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEAs a matter of formal explanation, may I say, first of all, I received no notice from the Noble Lord that he was going to raise this matter. As a matter of courtesy, observed in all parts of the House, an hon. Member is informed beforehand if his conduct is to be brought to the notice of the House. I received no such notice. The statement I desire to explain, and which I presume the Noble Lord opposite has in his mind is one—
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf the hon. Member will wait until the conclusion of questions I shall call upon him.