§ MR. DAVITTI beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland whether, as women are to be qualified to vote in elections for County and District Councils under the Irish Local Government Bill, and are not expressly disqualified by any 981 of its clauses or provisions from being chosen as representatives on such bodies, it is to be inferred that they will be so qualified when the Bill becomes law; and, if not, whether he will undertake to propose a clause in the Bill to confer this right upon women?
§ MR. JOHNSTONMay I at the same time ask the Chief Secretary what the position of women poor law guardians will be under the arrangements of the Local Government (Ireland) Bill; and whether women will be made eligible to serve on the Districts Councils which are intended to supersede the Boards of Guardians?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURWith my right hon. Friend's permission, I will reply to this question. As I stated in my speech when introducing the Irish Local Government Bill, the position of women as regards qualification to sit on County and District Councils will if the Bill passes in its present form, be the same in Ireland as in England; that is to say, women will be entitled to sit on District Councils if elected, but not on County Councils. This will result from the Adaptation Order under Clause 62 (1B) of the Bill. This reply deals also with the inquiries raised in the subsequent Question standing in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for South Belfast.