HC Deb 28 March 1884 vol 286 cc1016-7
MR. SEXTON

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, How many Members serving in the present Parliament for counties and boroughs in Ireland were not summoned by the High Sheriffs to serve as grand jurors in their respective counties, or counties of cities, at the recent Spring Assizes; and, if he will assent to a Motion for a Return showing the names of the Sheriffs and Members of Parliament in question?

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If, in the event of his granting the Return, asked for by the senior Member for Sligo, showing the names of Irish Members of Parliament who were not summoned to serve as Grand Jurors at the recent Spring Assizes, he will also give a Return of the rateable value of the property owned by such Members of Parliament, specifying the counties in which such properties are situated?

MR. TREVELYAN

I will answer the two Questions together. The information which the hon. Member for Sligo (Mr. Sexton) asks for could only be definitely ascertained by collecting it from the various sheriffs or secretaries of Grand Juries throughout Ireland. There is no obligation on the part of High Sheriffs to summon Members of Parliament. It is only custom. With regard to the proposed Return, it is not one that the Government would regard as of much importance; but if the hon. Member chooses to move for it I will not oppose it. With regard to the Return asked for by the hon. and gallant Member for Dublin (Colonel King-Harman), I think it would be quite un- reasonable and altogether inquisitorial to ask for a Return in such general terms as would involve an inquiry from each of the persons concerned whether he had or had not rateable property in any part of Ireland, and, if so, to what extent. But if the hon. and gallant Gentleman chooses to limit the terms of his Notice so that it would apply only to the county or city which the Member represents in Parliament, then the same observation will apply as to the proposed Return of the hon. Member for Sligo. While not regarding it of importance, I shall not oppose it.

MR. SEXTON

Is there any Constitutional rule requiring that a Member of Parliament, or any other person summoned to servo as a Grand Juror, shall possess any rateable property in the country? Has it not been usual to summon the sons of Peers who possess such property? I shall move for the Return, and I shall ask the right hon. Gentleman to make it fuller by adding the names of all Members of Parliament in Ireland who have been returned to servo as Grand Jurors, and in how many eases they obtained grants of money from public funds for the improvement of their estates, and whether they have expended the money for that purpose?

MR. TREVELYAN

I must think over the amended Return of the hon. Member. With regard to his Question, there is no Constitutional rule of the nature he asks, and there is no Constitutional rule at all in reference to Members of Parliament serving on Grand Juries.

MR. HEALY

If the hon. and gallant Member for Dublin (Colonel King-Harman) moves for a Return of the amount of rateable property held by each Member of Parliament, I shall move for a further Return, showing the amounts of the mortgages on such property.