§ MR. LONSDALEI beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he will state the number of magistrates who have been placed on the commission of the peace in England and Scotland since March, 1906; how many of these were Liberals and how many Conservatives; in how many cases have the objections of Lords-Lieutenant to certain nominees been overruled by the Lord Chancellor; and in how many cases have appointments been made over the heads of the Lords-Lieutenant.
§ SIR H CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe number, excluding Lancashire, is 3,833. It is impossible to state with any precision how many were Liberals and how many Conservatives, but it is believed that there were about three Liberals in every four appointed. The communications between the Lord Chancellor and the Lords-Lientenant are confidential.
§ MR. FLAVIN (Kerry. N.)Is it not the practice in England, as in Ireland, to appoint Tories and landlords to be Lords-Lieutenant?
§ VISCOUNT TURNOURWhat about the Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Cavan? Is the hon. Member for West Islington a landlord and a Tory?
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANLandlord, certainly: Tory, no.