40. Lieut.-Colonel ALLENasked the Prime Minister whether he received a deputation of railway workers from Ireland; whether there was a member thereof purporting to represent the railway workers at Portadown, in the province of Ulster; whether he has received a resolution from the railway men of Portadown repudiating such representative and stating that they might be relied on to assist all in their power the conveyance of military when and where they may be required; and whether, in future, before receiving such deputations, he will satisfy himself that the members thereof represent any substantial opinion of labour?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The deputation in question was understood to represent railway employés of Ireland as a whole, but I subsequently received a telegram from Portadown strongly supporting the attitude of His Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. LYNNMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has received a telegram from other parts of Ulster from railwaymen offering to assist him in fighting this conspiracy?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should give notice of that question.