§ 75. Captain W. BENNasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has taken the opinion of the Law Officers as to his power to arrest persons in England and deport them under the Restoration of Order in Ireland Act; and upon what words in the Act he is acting?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Baird)It has not been necessary for my right hon. Friend to consult the Law Officers. The Act provides for the issue of Regulations for securing the restoration and maintenance of order in Ireland, and No. 14b of the Regulations so issued provides that the Secretary of State, or in Scotland the Secretary for Scotland, or in Ireland the Lord Lieutenant or the Chief Secretary, respectively, may order the internment of a person suspected of acting or being about to act in a manner prejudicial to the restoration or maintenance of order in Ireland.
§ Captain BENNWill the hon. Baronet kindly answer the last part of my question, namely, under what words in the Act are these powers taken—not the Regulations, but the Act?
§ Sir J. BAIRDI have not the precise words here. I understood my hon. and 1508 gallant Friend to ask whether my right hon. Friend had taken the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown. I will let my hon. and gallant Friend have the precise words in the Act, but it is quite clear that the Act does provide the power.
§ Captain BENNI will put down a further question.