§ LORD CHARNWOODMy Lords, I rise to ask His Majesty's Government if they will obtain, through His Majesty's Representative in the United States of America, and will publish information as to the provisions of the law which has of late years been passed by Congress for the regulation of Party funds, as to the administration of this law, and as to the effects which it has so far produced, together with similar information in regard to similar laws which have been passed by the Legislatures of any of the States of the Union; and further, if they will in like manner obtain and publish information in regard to the laws regulating election expenses in His Majesty's self-governing Dominions, in the United States of America and the several States of the Union, and in the principal countries of Europe in which such laws may exist.
§ LORD WIMBORNEMy Lords, the Government have no objection to the collection and publication of information as to the laws in force on the subject to which the noble Lord has referred in the self-governing Dominions and in the principal foreign countries, and they will take steps to that end. But I think my noble friend will see that they could not properly publish anything beyond the laws in force and any reports which may have been made by the Governments concerned as to their working. It would be clearly impossible for us to ask our agents abroad to give their opinions on the working of the laws, and for the Foreign Office to publish them. But in so far as any Government documents exist commenting on, or giving information on, the working of those laws, we shall be very glad to meet my noble friend.