§ 52. Mr. LAMBERTasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will lay upon the Table of the House the Report of the inspector sent to investigate agricultural wages in Wiltshire?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe inquiries made by the inspector in question were of a very 1827 confidential nature in view of the risk to the persons concerned. I regret, therefore, that I am unable to comply with the right hon. Member's request.
§ Mr. LAMBERTIs it not the duty of the Minister to lay on the Table of the House a Report from which an extract has been quoted in this House?
§ Mr. BUXTONNo, Sir; I do not think my right hon. Frend's contention is in accordance with previous rulings. I may say that in August, 1893, the Speaker ruled that confidential documents passing between the officers of a Department and the Department are not necessarily laid on the Table if the Minister declares them to be confidential, because there would be a precedent dangerous to the public service.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs there any information in that statement which shows there are agricultural labourers in Wiltshire receiving not more than £1 per week?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREAre we to understand that this confidential report shows that the low scale of wages in Wiltshire, to which the Minister referred in this House, is general, or does it only refer to isolated cases?
§ Mr. BUXTONDecidedly to isolated cases, as I was very careful to point out, and I also expressed the hope that they were very rare indeed.
Mr. PALMERIs it on account of the low wages that this is to be regarded as confidential; is that the point which it is desired to suppress?
§ Mr. BUXTONNo, the reason is that to state the details of names and places might get people into trouble?
§ Mr. E. BROWNIs the Minister aware that, according to a report, the same statement was made at a meeting of the North Wilts Farmers' Union.
§ Mr. BUXTONYes, Sir, I am aware of that fact.