§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government will recommend to Her Majesty to confer on the Chief Magistrate of the City of Belfast the style and title of Lord Mayor, now that Dundee, recently granted a City Charter, and with a population considerably less, has just had its Chief Magistrate raised to the position of Lord Provost? I may be allowed to add that, in asking this question, I have not the slightest feeling of jealousy towards Dundee, and in no way object to the title of Lord Provost.
§ MR. T. D. SULLIVAN (Dublin, College Green)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will say, when answering the question of the hon. Member for South Belfast (suggesting that the style and title of Lord Mayor should be conferred on the Chief Magistrate of the City of Belfast), whether he will favourably entertain a similar application on behalf of the ancient Cities of Cork, Limerick, and Waterford?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS, Birmingham, E.)I will answer both questions at the same time. The Government will be prepared to consider the question of advising Her Majesty to confer the title of Lord Mayor upon the Chief Magistrate of the City of Belfast, having due regard to what has been done in other parts of the United Kingdom. With regard to Cork, Limerick, and Waterford, those cities do not present the conditions of population and growing industrial importance which would entitle them to be placed on the same level as Belfast.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many Scotch cities have Lord Provosts?
§ MR. JOHNSTONFive.
§ MR. MATTHEWSYes; I think five.