MR. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN (BIOGRAPHY). (Hansard, 21 October 1920)

§ 41. Mr. HOGGE had given notice of the following question
To ask the Prime Minister whether the forthcoming biography of the late Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, by Mr. J. L. Garvin, is a subsidised national undertaking; and, if not, whether he will explain why a letter asking for materials for that biography franked by the Chancellor of the Exchequer was delivered by a Government messenger in Stephen's Green, Dublin, on the 15th instant.

§ Mr. HOGGE
As the question is addressed to the Prime Minister, I do not wish to put it now.

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN
As the hon. Gentleman has thought fit to put it on the Paper, I should like to answer it, and I asked the Prime Minister to allow me to answer it. The answer to the first part of the question is of course in the negative. As regards the second part, I am obliged to the hon. Member for calling my attention to a case in which through some inadvertence my instructions were not carried out.

§ Mr. HOGGE
Will the right hon. Gentleman hold out any hope that the same kind of inadvertence shall be extended to Members of this House in replying to their constituents?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN
No.