HC Deb 14 April 1887 vol 313 cc887-9
MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)

I wish to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether Notice of Motion No. 1, standing to-day in the name of the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for the Isle of Thanet (Colonel King-Harman), has been given by the hon. and gallant Gentleman as a Member of the Government; and, if so, under what law the Office he holds is constituted; and whether the acceptance of that Office vacates his seat?

THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)

was about to rise—

MR. JOHN MORLEY (Newcastle-on-Tyne)

May I interrupt the right hon. Gentleman? I was going to ask him by what authority the Office of Parliamentary Secretary for Ireland is constituted; and whether he will lay on the Table of the House any document describing the nature of the duties of the new Office, and the conditions under which it is to be held; whether it is proposed to attach any salary to the Office; and, if not, whether it is contended by Her Majesty's Government that there is a power without limit of constituting unpaid Parliamentary Offices?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)

I cannot give a full answer to the Question, which involves some legal points; but I may say that there is no salary attached to the Office. The Government have taken every pains to see that the course they have adopted is legal, and they have taken the highest legal advice on the subject.

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE (Edinburgh, Mid Lothian)

Is the seat to be vacated?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

No, Sir.

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

Will there be some statement laid before the House to show the grounds on which the seat is not to be vacated?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I believe the grounds are that it is not an Office of profit under the Crown.

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

I can only say this—that I once had the honour of serving a Conservative Government as Commissioner of the Ionian Islands for a very few days; and under the advice of the Law Officers of the Government, though I received no salary, yet my seat for the University of Oxford was vacated, and I was re-elected. That was in 1859.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I would suggest that the best course would be to put a Question to the hon. and learned Gentleman the Attorney General for England.

MR. SEXTON

What is the title of the new Office?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Assistant Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant.

MR. CHILDERS (Edinburgh, S.)

said, a Question was asked a few minutes ago as to the title of the new Officer. The Chief Secretary said it would be Assistant Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant, and then he whispered Under Secretary. May I ask him whether in The Gazette it is not given as Parliamentary Under Secretary?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I beg pardon; I believe the right hon. Gentleman is correct.

DR. TANNER (Cork Co. Mid)

Arising out of this new appointment, I should like, as I see the hon. and gallant Gentleman (Colonel King-Harman) in his place, to ask him whether he is a member of the Orange Society in Ireland, as well as of sundry other Protestant Secret Associations?

[No reply.]

MR. W. H. K. REDMOND (Fermanagh, N.)

May I ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant, whether it is not a fact that the newly- appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary for Ire land was at one time Secretary to the Home Rule League in Dublin?

[No reply.]