§ 50. Mr. GODFREY LOCKER-LAMPSONasked whether, in view of the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer that if there was any desire on the part of any body of Members of this House for the publication of the evidence given before the Committee on Irish Finance, the Prime Minister would consider whether so much of it as can be published without disregard to the wishes of the witnesses could be printed and issued, and in view of the fact that about 270 hon. Members have signed such a request, he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not consider that the number of signatures attached to the memorials indicates a general desire on the part of the House that the evidence should be published.
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman, with great respect, how many signatures he does require?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think that 270 are enough.
§ Mr. ALFRED LYTTELTONMay I ask on what ground there should be any secrecy on this matter at all?
§ The PRIME MINISTERA large part of the evidence was given under the pledge of secrecy, and I have repeatedly said that it would not be published unless there was a general desire for it on the part of the House.
§ Sir J. LONSDALEDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider that the signatures of 270 Members of this House are not at least equal in value to a request by the hon. Member for Waterford (Mr. John Redmond)?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe hon. Member for Waterford has nothing whatever to do with the matter.
§ Mr. KINGIf all these 270 Members will promise to read the whole of the evidence, will the right hon. Gentleman publish it?