§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the reference to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council of certain disputed points in the law of Malta, which, as he recently stated, Her Majesty has been advised to make, is intended to be made by Her Majesty under the Act 3 & 4 Will. IV., c. 41, s. 4; or, if not, under what statute; and whether the Government will consider the propriety of advising Her Majesty to refer to the Judicial Committee under the above statute, or in such other way as may be legal and proper, the question of law as to the eligibility of Roman Catholics to the offices of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Lord Chancellor of Great Britain?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHHer Majesty's Government do not think it advisable to propound this question to the Judicial Committee.
§ MR. SUMMERS (Huddersfield)Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the first part of the question?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHI am not at present in the possession of information that would enable me to answer it. I do not look upon it as an urgent matter.
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHThe matter will be referred to the Judicial Committee with full assurance that they have authority to deal with it.
§ MR. SUMMERSUnder what statute will the question be referred to the Privy Council?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHI distinctly decline to state.