LORD MONKSWELLin accordance with the notice standing in my name on the Paper, I beg to ask the Lord Chancellor whether there is any foundation for the report that be has recently invited 100 law clerks to resign.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORThere is not the smallest foundation for it. In a conversation between the noble Lord and myself, I told him that it was grotesquely inaccurate. I cannot help saying that it is not creditable to a certain portion of the Press that these statements should be made, apparently with the purpose of founding some commentaries or severe observations against noble Lords and others. I daresay that the person who invented this little suggestion only thought, perhaps, of reflecting on others. He did not seem to consider that he was reflecting also on a very hard-working, very diligent, and very efficient body of public servants when he suggested that 100 of them were being withdrawn by reason of their inefficiency. There is not the smallest foundation for the suggestion. I agree with the Lord Chief Justice in saying that I have no reason to suppose there is any lack of efficiency or diligence or energy in the public Department to which I have referred and I can only regret that such statements are made apparently with no responsibility. Although some newspapers have had no complicity in the invention, I do not find that the persons who invented these things are made responsible even to those who accept their information. I regret that such statements can be made without the persons who invented them being made responsible for their untruths.
House adjourned at five minutes past Seven o'clock, to Monday next a quarter past Four o'clock.