§ 32. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that the Parliament of Southern Ireland is not now intended to come into effective existence, if he will state how it is proposed to constitute the Joint Exchequer Board and the Civil Service Committee established by the Government of Ireland Act, 1920; and by what machinery, pending the appointment of those bodies or of substitutes for them by legislation, the apportionment between Southern and Northern Ireland of the Irish Church Temporalities Fund and other financial assets, and the allocation of existing civil servants is to be carried out?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe constitution and functions of the Joint Exchequer Roard and the Civil Service Committee are at present the subject of discussion between the British Government and the Provisional Government, and the matters referred to in the second paragraph of the question must await the decisions which may be arrived at as a result of these discussions.
§ Mr. McNEILLWill it not require legislation in the Southern Parliament as constituted by the Act of 1920 to create a substitute or make some other determining factor?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThere will be a further opportunity of legislation on the subject when the constitution of the Irish Parliament is finally brought before this Parliament.
§ Mr. McNEILLIs it the intention of the Government to have this matter safeguarded within that Constitution, or shall we find that a Constitution will come in Ireland without any provision being made for this, and a schedule in the Bill which 1191 we shall be asked to pass without Amendment?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo, Sir; my hon. Friend may rest assured that that matter will be dealt with by special legislation, or otherwise provided for.