HC Deb 26 March 1912 vol 36 cc211-2
Mr. CATHCART WASON

asked the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been directed to a Return given by the Secretary to the Board of Agriculture (Ireland), showing the amount of money advanced by the Board for the purchase of motor boats and for furnishing motors to sailing boats; and if he will bring the said Return before the notice of the Departmental Committee now engaged on this subject and request them to publish with their Report the experience of the Irish Board?

Mr. MORTON

asked the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been directed to a Return given by the Secretary to the Board of Agriculture (Ireland), showing the amount of money advanced by the Board for the purchase of motor boats and for furnishing motors to sailing boats; and if he will bring the said Return before the notice of the Departmental Committee now engaged on this subject and request them to publish with their Report the experience of the Irish Board?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

If the Return which my hon. Friends have in view is the Report on the Sea and Inland Fisheries of Ireland for 1910 (Command Paper 5933, of last year), I may say that it has been brought to my notice, and also, I understand, to the notice of the Departmental Committee referred to. It is for that Committee to decide what they should publish in their Report.

Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAY

When will the Report be forthcoming?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

I cannot tell exactly.

Mr. MORTON

Can this Departmental Committee refuse to received evidence tendered to them?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

I do not think they are in the least likely to. This particular Report will be before them. The point is whether they should embody it in their Report. That is certainly a matter for themselves. It is not necessary for them to do so, because it is already printed.

Mr. MORTON

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that they have refused evidence?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

Not this evidence. I am not aware of it. If the hon. Member will put down a question I will inquire into it. Of course, they would refuse evidence which they thought was irrelevant to their inquiry.