§ 47 and 48. Mr. WEIGALLasked (1) what are the certain points of information in connection with the land question which can best be obtained by means of a secret inquiry; (2) whether he will give the names and qualifications of the members of the Land Committee who are acquiring information with the sanction and approval of the Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid I cannot add anything to the answers on these points which I gave to the hon. Member on Thursday last and to the hon. Member for Ayr Burghs on 10th July.
§ Mr. WEIGALLIn view of the alarm that has been caused in agricultural constituencies in regard to the secret land inquiry, can the Prime Minister say once and for all whether or not this inquiry is being carried out with the sanction and approval of the Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have answered that question several times. It it a purely private and unofficial inquiry, and the Government are in no way bound by any conclusions it may arrive at.
§ Mr. WEIGALLDoes the Government give its sanction and approval to all Committees whether they know the names or the qualifications of the members or not?
§ Mr. REMNANTIn view of the right hon. Gentleman's expressed approval of this Land Inquiry Committee, may I ask, if he has cognisance of its doings, does he approve of them, and is he prepared to accept responsibility for what they do?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo.
§ Mr. REMNANTThen the right hon. Gentleman approves and does not care how it carries on.
§ 52. Mr. YERBURGHasked the Prime Minister whether, in the interests of the nation and Empire, it is the function of the Government to take steps to maintain and, if possible, to increase the population of our rural districts; whether, in considering what measures should be adopted to attain this end, the social as well as the economic changes of the last century must be reckoned with; and, this being so, whether the Government will institute an inquiry into the present conditions of rural life which will embrace a consideration of the effect of such social changes?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI agree generally with what the hon. Member suggests in the first two branches of his question, but I do not think there is ground for such a special inquiry as he proposes in the last part.
§ Mr. WALTER LONGArising out of that answer, may I ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware the Committee to which he has referred in previous answers is inquiring on the lines indicated in the question; that they are addressing their questions only to certain selected people and not to those people in many districts who are best qualified to give information; whether he does not think, if he wants information, and knowing as he does that everybody connected with the land is willing to give that information, the best, the fairest, and the most honourable way to get it would be to hold an inquiry conducted by the Government, and for which the Government would be responsible?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat raises a number of rather controversial matters of opinion. I have said before, and I say again to-day, the Government is in no way bound by the result of the inquiry of this Committee, and is not in any way responsible for its proceedings.
53. Mr. FRED HALLasked what means, in the absence of trained official assistance, are adopted by the Land Inquiry Committee of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information which is being collected by the Committee; are particulars being obtained in respect of every estate in England; if not, what line of distinction is drawn; does the inquiry extend to other parts of the United Kingdom; are inquiries being applied to the estates owned by supporters of the Government as well as by their opponents; and what steps are taken to prevent those associated with the inquiry making financial profit out of investigations carried on in this secret manner?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs I recently stated, the Committee determines its own procedure and makes such inquiries as it deems necessary, and no one is under any obligation to give them information. I understand that the inquiry is confined to Great Britain.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have said the Committee determines its own method of proceeding.