50. Sir F. HALLasked the Prime Minister what action will be taken to ensure the carrying out of the undertaking given on behalf of the Government by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the effect that the Government accepts responsibility for seeing that full justice is done to the claims of Irish civil servants who were in the service of the Crown at the time of the change of Government in Southern Ireland; whether arrangements will be made that will secure that the officers affected, established and unestablished, shall receive pensions or other compensation on retirement on as favourable a basis as would have been the case had they continued to hold their offices under the British Government; whether representatives of the two Governments will confer in order to determine what officers are to be deemed to be covered by the assurances which have been given on the subject, as to the terms on which pensions are to be granted, and as to the allocation of cost as between the British and the Free State Exchequers; and whether legislation will be introduced next year to enable the British Government to carry out its obligations in the matter?
§ Mr. BALDWINArticle 10 of the Treaty and Article 78 of the Irish Free State Constitution provide for the payment of compensation by the Free State on terms not less favourable than those accorded by the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, to Irish civil servants who are discharged by it or who retire in consequence of the change of Government. The Free State Government have already taken steps to carry out these arrangements by appointing a Committee to deal with all claims by the persons affected. The Irish Civil Service have two representatives on the Committee, which is presided over by a distinguished Irish Judge, in whom, I am sure, all parties concerned have the fullest confidence.
2365 In these circumstances I am not prepared to intervene in the matter on the lines suggested, and I see no necessity for the introduction of legislation on the subject.