§ 57. General CROFTasked the Prime Minister whether he can give facilities for a Bill which will make obligatory the publication of the names of subscribers and amounts subscribed to all political organisations once a year?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am not in a position to add anything to the answer which, I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Leominster on the 8th of November.
§ General CROFTHas that not to do with the sale of honours? Is it the opinion of the Government that nothing should be done?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIf my hon. and gallant Friend will look at the answer, he will see that I said:
The utility or otherwise of the course suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend would require more careful examination than the Government have at the present time to give it."— [OFFICAL REPORT, 8th November, 1917, col. 2315, Vol. XCVIII.]
§ General CROFTCould not a small Committee of all sections of the House be set up to see if something could be done?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have already stated that I think this would require a great deal of examination, and I do not consider this is an urgent war measure.
§ 62. Mr. BILLINGasked the Prime Minister whether he will take such steps as are necessary to render it illegal for any political party to accept donations from persons other than of British birth?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe answer is in the negative.
§ Mr. BILLINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a feeling throughout this country that foreign money has found its way into party funds, and that there is a great deal of dissatisfaction in consequence; and will he give an assurance in future that at least German money shall not go into party funds?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI can give the assurance as to any party funds with which I have to do.