§ LORD CLINTONMy Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord BLEDISLOE I beg to ask His Majesty's Government whether it has been decided that the Royal Commission on the Economic Condition of Agriculture shall held its meetings in secret, and how it is possible to justify such a course as being in the public interest.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDIt is outside the province of the Government to control the admission of the public or the Press at meetings held by Royal Commissions. These bodies settle their own procedure, and the Government, so far as I am able to ascertain, has no right to intervene. I am informed, however, that this particular Royal Commission propose to issue periodical reports to the Press immediately after their sittings.