§ 24. Rear-Admiral BEAMISHasked the Attorney-General whether the committee set up in 1921 to investigate and report upon matters bearing on litigation as between Crown and subject has made a report; whether any draft Bill has been prepared; and can he hold out hopes of early legislation?
§ 48. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce the Bill prepared by the Committee appointed to investigate the position of the Crown as a litigant?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir Thomas Inskip)The terms of reference of the Committee to which my hon. Friend refers were altered in 1924; the Committee reported in February of last year under its altered terms of reference, and their Report was presented to Parliament in April of that year and is Command Paper No. 2842. The Report is largely composed of a draft Bill. I cannot hold out any hope of early legislation upon the subject.
§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISONDo the Government recognise the great urgency of getting this matter attended to? Is it not a practically non-contentious matter, and could not a short Bill dealing with it be brought forward with the consent of all parties?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALThe Government certainly recognise the importance of the question, but, if my hon. Friend will make inquiries, I think he will find that it is far from being a non-contentious matter.