41. Earl WINTERTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government in Great Britain proposes to issue any statement as to the causes of the outbreak in Palestine last year, either at the time of or after the issue of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry?
§ Dr. SHIELSThis question will be considered when the Report has been received.
Earl WINTERTONHas the hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the fact that up to the present the Government have made no statement of any kind on this most lamentable event, which resulted in the death of hundreds of people; and will he make representations to the Secretary of State that this House is entitled to be informed by the Government, after the issue of the Report, what their views are on the causes of the outbreak and the measures to be taken to avoid any such occurrence in the future?
§ Dr. SHIELSI do not understand the attitude of the Noble Earl. This Commission was appointed, it has done its work, and it is now preparing its Report; and we are asked to make a declaration, or to decide upon the nature of a declaration, before the Report has been written.
Earl WINTERTONI did not ask the hon. Gentleman to do anything of the sort. All that I asked was whether the Government, after the Report has been published, are prepared to make a statement of their own as to whether or not they agree with that Report.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt will be better to await the Report.
Earl WINTERTONOn a point of Order. Do I understand you to say, Sir, that my question was not in order; and if so, may I respectfully ask why it was passed by the Clerks at the Table?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI did not say that the Noble Lord's question was not in order; I only suggested that, after the answer has been given, he might wait for the Report.
Earl WINTERTONMay I respectfully point out that I asked the hon. Gentleman in my supplementary question if he would answer the question on the Paper, and—probably wrongly—I understood you to rule that ray question was out of order? That was my object in rising to a point of Order.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEOn that point of Order. May I draw your attention, Sir, to the fact that on a previous occasion the Government gave an undertaking to answer a similar question when the Report had been drawn up? My Noble Friend is now asking whether they will implement that promise or not?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe Under-Secretary has already given the answer, and I do not see any object in repeating it.