25. Mr. HAZLETONasked the Home Secretary whether the Special Commissioners he has appointed to inquire into the cases of Government officials suspended for alleged complicity in the recent rebellion are to hold their sittings in private; whether they have shorthand notes kept of the proceedings before them; and whether they allow legal assistance to be obtained by the persons into whose cases they are inquiring?
Mr. SAMUELThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Commissioners themselves take such notes as are necessary. The investigation is a purely administrative one in each case such as the head of a Civil Department would conduct. There is nothing in the nature of legal proceedings, no request for legal assistance has been made, and nothing has, so far, happened to indicate that legal assistance is desirable for the elucidation of the facts or for the benefit of the suspected official.
§ Mr. LUNDONIf they apply for legal aid will they be able to get it?
§ Mr. LUNDONIf a request is made?
Mr. SAMUELThe Commissioners decide their own procedure. The procedure is more or less informal, and there is not the smallest doubt that the men know-perfectly well what are the acts on which the charges are founded.
Mr. NUGENTWill the right hon. Gentleman suggest to the Commissioners the advisability of giving each one of these men a copy of the charges made against him, and by whom, so that it may be known who are making the false charges against these men?