HC Deb 03 May 1920 vol 128 cc1701-2
49. Lord R. CECIL

asked the Prime Minister whether the Lord Lieutenant or the Chief Secretry is in control of Irish administration when they are both in Dublin; and from whom General Sir N. Macready takes his orders?

Mr. SHORTT

Both the Lord-Lieutenant and the Chief Secretary are members of the" Cabinet and they are jointly responsible for the Irish Administration under which General Macready is serving.

Lord R. CECIL

What I was anxious to know was whether there was one head in Ireland or two. If there are two it might possibly account for the state of things that exists?

Mr. SHORTT

The position, practically, is as it has been for many years.

Mr. HOGGE

Is it the case that both the Lord-Lieutenant and the Chief Secretary are now permanent Members of. the Cabinet, or does the old arrangement obtain, providing that when one was in London he attended the Cabinet and the other did not?

Mr. SHORTT

On the very rare occasions when they are both in England they are both present.

Lord R. CECIL

When the right hon. Gentleman says that this arrangement existed in Ireland before, can he refer me to any case in which in recent times the Lord-Lieutenant and the Chief Secretary have been both Members of the Cabinet?

Mr. SHORTT

I think in the time of Lord Spencer.

Lord R. CECIL

No, no!

Sir J. BUTCHER

With regard to the administration of Ireland, will the Government consider the question of putting the Lord-Lieutenancy in Commission and making the Chief Secretary responsible for Ireland to this House?

Mr. E. WOOD

If these two gentlemen have a difference of opinion, on whose advice will the Cabinet act?