HC Deb 13 June 1921 vol 143 cc30-1
Mr. O'CONNOR

(by Private Notice) asked the Chief Secretary if he can give the House any information with regard to the tragic events that have taken place in Belfast during the week-end?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

I only received notice of the hon. Member's question at twenty minutes past two to-day. I wired to Belfast, but I regret that up to the present I have not received any information.

Mr. O'CONNOR

I did not mean any discourtesy to the right hon. Gentleman, but may I explain that I sent the question to him after I had read what appeared in the very long accounts in some of the evening papers to-day with regard to these events.

Mr. A. WILLIAMS

Does the right hon. Gentleman never get information of these events unless a question is put to him?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

Certainly. Reports are forwarded regularly to Dublin Castle from all parts of Ireland, and are sent, as soon as they are received, to me in London, but I have not received anything further than has already been issued to the public Press.

Mr. WILLIAMS

Is there any good reason why the information takes so much longer to reach the right hon. Gentleman than it does to reach the ordinary sources of information?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

Ordinary sources of information can give what they wish. I can only speak on the information of those officials on whom I rely.