§ 52. Mr. HOGGEasked the Lord Privy Seal what are now the duties and emoluments of the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and whether, now that the Irish Free State is in existence, it is proposed to discontinue the office?
47. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the Prime Minister whether the office of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland is still in existence; if not, what office is now held by the right hon. and gallant Member for Sunderland; whether he is drawing any salary; and, if so, on what Vote is it charged?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe office of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland is still in existence, and my right hon. Friend is still Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant, and is drawing the salary normally appropriated to his office which is charged on the Irish Office Vote, Class II, 42. The duties of the Lord Lieutenant and the Chief Secretary respectively were enumerated in the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies to my Noble Friend the Member for Battersea (Viscount Curzon) on the 13th February, and by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Kenyon) on the 9th February. The duties falling to be performed by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary are still too onerous to permit of the office being discontinued at present, but reference to the Estimates will show that provision has been made for its continu- 400 ance during not more than six months of the present financial year.