HC Deb 21 May 1908 vol 189 cc514-5
MR. HAZLETON (Galway, N.)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the appointment of the right hon. Member for Carnarvon to be Chancellor of the Exchequer in Ireland, notified in the Dublin Gazette of the 12th May, was made in consequence of the provisions of Section 14 of the Act of 1816, consolidating the Exchequers of Great Britain and Ireland; if so, who is the second of such Commissioners: and whether, seeing that Section 14 of the Act of 1816 provides that such Commissioners are to be in addition to the number of Commissioners which may now by law be appointed for executing the office of Treasurer of the Exchequer of Great Britain, the number of the Commissioners for Ireland is in addition to the number for Great Britain.

MR. HOBHOUSE

My right hon. friend was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland under the Act 4, George IV., cap. vii, which prescribes that the offices of Chancellor of the Exchequer of Great Britain and Ireland respectively shall be held by the same person. The powers given by Section 14 of the Act of 1816 have not been exercised for many years.

MR. HAZLETON

Why have the powers of this section not been enforced?

MR. HOBHOUSE

I am not responsible for what preceded my appointment to my present office. Therefore I cannot answer the Question, I am afraid.