§ Commander BELLAIRSMr. Speaker, may I put to you a question affecting the powers of Members of this House to ask questions relating to Royal Commissions'! I believe it was decided, owing to an abuse of the privilege, that Members should not be allowed to ask questions affecting Royal Commissions. This House has latterly appointed two Royal Commissions. May I ask you of whom we may ask questions affecting the progress those Royal Commissions are making, or are they sitting altogether in camera?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI do not know whether or not these Commisions are sitting in camera. Royal Commissions are appointed by His Majesty for the purpose of making certain inquiries, and it is the duty of the Commissioners not to give information except to His Majesty. That information will be in any report that is presented.
§ Commander BELLAIRSIs there anything to reconcile us to the former practice of which this House was possessed of being able to question Royal Commissioners?
§ Mr. SPEAKERNo such power ever existed so far as I am aware.
§ Mr. LOUGHWas it not the original practice that proper questions as to the proceedings of these Commissions might be asked from the Home Secretary?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have known questions asked of the Home Secretary as to when a Commission was likely to report, and I think the Home Secretary would probably 36 inquire from the Chairman for the information; but I do not think there can be any question asked of the Commissioners themselves as to what they are doing.
§ Mr. PRINGLEDoes your ruling, Mr. Speaker, apply to Statutory Commissions as distinct from Royal Commissions—that is to say, Statutory Commissions set up by Act of Parliament, and which, by Statute, have to report to both Houses of Parliament?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI had better look into that matter. My observations related only to Royal Commissions.