§ VISCOUNT BURYsaid, he only rose for the purpose of asking his noble Friend 1723 (the Earl of Morley) to fulfil the promise he had made in the early part of the Session, when he (Viscount Bury) had put several Questions regarding the progress of the Channel Tunnel. The noble Earl had always said that a Technical Committee was sitting at the War Office, that the whole matter was being brought before them, and that as soon as they had reported their Lordships should know the result of their deliberations. He wished, therefore, to ask for the production of that Report. No doubt most of their Lordships were aware of the sense in which the Committee had reported. It was matter of notoriety amongst all those—and they were a large number—who had taken a great interest in the question of the construction of the Tunnel. He would only suggest to his noble Friend that they should not be supplied with a part, but with the Report of the Committee in its entirety.
THE EARL OF MORLEYMy Lords, I am not at present in a position to give a categorical answer to the noble Lord's Question. The Report to which he refers is now under the consideration of the military authorities of the War Office, and until they have expressed their opinions upon it, it is impossible to determine whether it should be presented to Parliament or not; and if it is presented, whether it should be given in its entirety, as I need not point out to the noble Lord that some portions of the Report are of a very confidential character. I am not surprised at the interest which my noble Friend and the country take in the question, and I can only say that what information can be given to the House, when the opinions of the military authorities have been taken, will be presented, with any other Papers which can be communicated to Parliament. At the same time, I must observe that I did not make the promise the noble Viscount has referred to. I only promised that the whole subject should be fully considered, and that the Report should be presented in a form most consistent with the interests of the Public Service.
§ VISCOUNT BURYsaid, he was not at all satisfied with the answer the noble Earl had given, and he should be compelled, if their Lordships did not get the information that he asked for, to make a Motion on the subject.