§ 51. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the Prime Minister whether, and to what extent, the private Land Inquiry now being conducted on agricultural estates has the official recognition of himself or of the Government; whether it is with his sanction that it is being conducted in certain districts and in respect of certain estates only; whether the Report of the Inquiry Committee will eventually be presented to him; and whether it is proposed to found future legislation upon it?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Inquiry referred to is conducted by an unofficial body which determines its own procedure. It has, of course, no coercive or inquisitional powers, and no one who is not so minded is under any obligation to give it information. I understand that the Committee will, in due time, publish a Report. The Government are not in any way bound by the Committee's findings, and-all relevant material will be considered in framing any proposals which may ultimately be made
§ Mr. WALTER LONGIs the Inquiry which is being conducted, and to which the right hon. Gentleman refers, conducted with the knowledge and approval of His Majesty's Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, in a sense that is perfectly true. As I have said, it is an unofficial inquiry. None of its expenses are being borne by public funds, and we are in no way whatever bound by any conclusions at which it may arrive.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEAre public officials allowed to give evidence before this Committee during their working time?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not believe that any such case has arisen.
§ Mr. LONGIt is not in regard to the conclusions that we are anxious to know the views of the right hon. Gentleman. He is aware, surely, that there is a very strong feeling about this Inquiry in the country, and what the country desires to know is whether the people who are prosecuting 1724 these investigations are authorised to say that they have the approval if not the official sanction of His Majesty's Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe approval of the Government in a sense that they may make the inquiries which they deem themselves to be necessary; in no other sense.
§ Mr. BUTCHERWill the evidence be published?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI should not like to give an undertaking to that effect. I really do not know.
§ Mr. BUTCHERIs the Report of any value without the evidence on which it is founded?
§ Mr. RAFFANDoes this Inquiry differ in any material respect from the Inquiry conducted by the Rural League, of which the official leaders of the Opposition are vice-presidents, with a view to the formulation of a Conservative land policy?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have no official knowledge of that. I am told that the lines of the Inquiry are very similar.