§ 52 and 53. Mr. NEWMANasked the Prime Minister (1) whether, having regard to the fact that of the forty-eight Clauses and Schedules contained in the Government of Ireland Bill, 1912, twenty-two Clauses and all the Schedules were passed in Committee without discussion, he will, should the Government determine to allow any further discussion on the Bill by way of suggested Amendment, cause any preference to be given to suggestions that deal with such subjects as the charges on the Guarantee Fund, the powers of the Irish House of Commons and Senate, and the power of the Irish Parliament to deal with Acts passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom and extending to Ireland, which were embodied in Clauses passed under closure and without debate; and (2) whether he is aware that the House has not been hitherto given an opportunity of discussing Clauses 44, 45, 46, and 47 of the Government of Ireland Bill, which confer on the Government the power to effect by Order in Council any arrangement or adaptation that they may think fit with regard to bringing the Act into operation or with regard to the relations of the Irish and English Post Offices, to the transfer of the administration of the Old Age Pensions Act, to the transfer and apportionment of any property, rights, and liabilities in connection with Irish Services, and to the fixing of the appointed day for the commencement of the Act; and whether suggested Amendments dealing with such hitherto undiscussed matters will be given any priority for discussion in the event of time for the discussion of suggestions being allowed by the Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI can only say that, while I will give the suggestions made by the hon. Member careful consideration, I am not yet prepared to make a general statement as to procedure.
§ 60. Mr. JAMES HOPEasked the Prime Minister if he can make any statement as to the steps he has taken since 29th April to ascertain the views of Irishmen on the one side and on the other of the two great political parties in Great Britain in order to arrive at a settlement of the question of the future government of Ireland?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think it would be in the public interest for me to make any statement at present on this subject.
§ 63. Sir J. D. REESasked the Prime Minister whether he has seen the anti-Home Rule resolutions of the trade unionists of Belfast; and what attention will be given to such resolutions by His Majesty's Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe resolutions passed by certain trade unionists in Belfast on the subject of the Home Rule Bill have not escaped the attention of the Government.
§ Sir J. D. REESWhat attention is the Government giving to the resolutions?
§ Mr. DEVLINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is not a single organised trade body in Belfast which has passed any resolution?
§ Mr. PRINGLEThey must have been blacklegs.
§ 65. Sir J. D. REESasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government has under consideration the union of Ulster with Scotland as a solution preferable to the cutting and carving in pieces of the hitherto United Kingdom?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir.