§ 46. Mr. WEIGALLasked why the Government adopted the means of a secret inquiry to obtain information in reference to questions affecting the landed interests instead of the appointment of a Royal Commission or a Departmental Committee?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt was considered that information with regard to certain points could most usefully and expeditiously be collected by the unofficial body, to which I presume the hon. Member refers.
§ Mr. WEIGALLAre we to assume that the Government do not desire unpartisan information but only fraudulent information for electioneering purposes?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe hon. Member must not understand anything of the kind.
47. Mr. FRED HALLasked the Prime Minister whether, in connection with the 1019 land inquiry which is being conducted with his sanction by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he will take steps to prevent any use being made for political purposes of the evidence, or parts thereof, which is being collected until the whole of the evidence has been published, as promised recently by the Chancellor, and until official steps have been taken to test its accuracy and impartiality?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am not aware that my right lion. Friend has promised to publish the whole of the evidence, nor do I know to what particular circumstance the hon. Member refers. The Committee are an unofficial body and arrange their own procedure, but I cannot doubt that they will discourage any premature use being made of the evidence which is being collected.