§ 18 and 19. Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland (1) whether he can now give the names of the fourteen witnesses who have consented to 2097 the publication of their evidence before the Committee on Irish Finance; and (2) when he proposes to publish the evidence of the fourteen witnesses before the Committee on Irish Finance?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere is no necessity for giving the list for which the hon. Member asks. The evidence which it is proposed to publish is in the printers' hands and will be issued without any delay.
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONHas the right hon. Gentleman any special objection to giving the list of names?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, Sir, except that I think if the hon. Member waits a few days he will have them. As a matter of fact, one of them is in question at the present moment.
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many witnesses altogether have consented to their evidence being published?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have said it was fourteen; possibly it may be fifteen.
§ 20. Mr. STANIERasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he has any objection to the publication, in whole or part, of the evidence of Mr. Thomas P. Gill, Mr. Thomas Butler, and Mr. Joseph P. Walsh before the Committee on Irish Finance?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELL (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, Ireland)The answer is in the affirmative.
§ 44. Colonel BURNasked whether the Inland Revenue Department have any objection to the publication, in whole or part, of the evidence of Mr. Alfred W. Soward before the Committee on Irish Finance?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Robertson)The Commissioners of Inland Revenue have no objection to the publication of the evidence referred to by the hon. and gallant Member.
§ Colonel BURNWill the evidence be published?
§ 45. Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Prime Minister what was the reason 2098 of the six months' delay in ascertaining whether the witnesses before the Committee on Irish Finance objected to the publication of their evidence, seeing that a majority of the Members of this House asked him to do so in October last.
§ Mr. BIRRELL (for the Prime Minister)My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has repeatedly explained this matter. He stated to the House in May last that he did not see his way to inquire whether the witnesses had any objection to the publication of the evidence which they had given in confidence until a general desire for it on the part of the House was expressed. Although that condition was never satisfied, yet, as some Members seem to think that there was some mystery in the matter, the Prime Minister asked me on the 1st of this month to communicate with the witnesses, and I have done so.
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONWhat I wanted to ask the right hon. Gentleman was why he should wait until six months after the majority of the Members of this House asked him to approach the witnesses?
§ Mr. BIRRELLBecause the Prime Minister entertained doubts as to whether a majority of the House is the same thing as a general desire.
§ Mr. GINNELLCan the right hon. Gentleman explain, what has never been explained in this House, why a pledge of secrecy was given in connection with a public matter?
§ Mr. WILLIAM O'BRIENThat is the mystery.
§ Mr. BIRRELLIf that is the mystery the answer is this: We were very anxious that Civil servants should be at liberty to give evidence and feel themselves so.
§ 78. Mr. FELLasked the Postmaster-General whether he has any objection to the publication, in whole or part, of the evidence of Sir Charles A. King before the Committee on Irish Finance?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)Sir Charles King has informed the Chief Secretary for Ireland that he has no objection to the publication of the evidence referred to.