HC Deb 03 March 1930 vol 236 cc33-4
62. Sir HENRY CAUTLEY

asked the First Commissioner of Works, with regard to the dinner arranged by his Department, by the permission of the Lord Mayor and at the expense of the Government Hospitality Fund, at the Mansion House before the opening of the British Industries Fair, if he will state how many guests were entertained, and what number of these were civil servants or connected with the Civil Service or with the organisation of the Fair?

Mr. LANSBURY

I think I must refer the hon. Member to the answer given by a distinguished predecessor of mine to similar questions on more than one occasion. The reason which led Mr. Harcourt to decline to give details in answer to such a question appeal with equal force to me. As the last occasion on which such a question was asked occurred in 1916, and the answer is somewhat long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate a copy in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Sir H. CAUTLEY

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell me whether this dinner, the cost of which is a public charge, is not degenerating into a public feast for the officials connected with the Fair, and not for likely buyers?

Mr. LANSBURY

I think the hon. Baronet has not done himself justice in the aspersion he has cast on the Civil Service. I am quite satisfied that this expenditure is proper expenditure, and, when the hon. Baronet has read the reply, he will be sorry for what he said just now.

Captain GUNSTON

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that the guests did themselves justice at the dinner?

Mr. R. A. TAYLOR

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that the name of the hon. Baronet is on the invitation list for the next dinner?

Following is the copy of the answer: I propose to reply to this question in the exact words used by me in answer to a somewhat similar question eight years ago, when the Government Hospitality Fund was first established. The answer I gave on that occasion was as follows: The Prime Minister has asked me to deal with the question, and I hope the hon. Gentleman will not think me wanting in courtesy if I decline to give him any detailed answer to it. My colleagues, in making me responsible for Government hospitality have imposed on me a task which is very onerous and very delicate—a task for which I confess I feel myself wholly unfitted—but one which I can only perform at all if I am happy enough to command the confidence of both sides of the House. National hospitality would lose half its utility and all its grace if the reasons for which it was proffered or withheld were to become a matter of question and answer in Parliament. I would not for a moment suggest that this House should be debarred from criticising my administration of the fund when the necessary Vote comes up for discussion. They will then be entitled to condemn my conduct of it, or to suspend or cancel the policy itself. But even on such a Debate I should not be prepared to defend myself by stating the grounds on which I had abstained from offering hospitality to any individuals or delegations, for I am convinced that such a course would absolutely destroy the aim of international comity, which is the basis and object of this new departure. I can therefore only ask for the generous indulgence and confidence of the House during the commencement of this experiment, and until, in their opinion, I have ceased to deserve it