HC Deb 26 July 1922 vol 157 cc453-4
49. Captain BENN

asked the Prime Minister what staff is at present solely under the control of the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and how much of the staff of the Irish Office is under the direction of the Secretary of State for the Colonies; what Minister or Ministers will be responsible under the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, for representing Northern Ireland in the British Parliament, and under the new Irish Constitution for representing Southern Ireland; and when he expects these arrangements to be complete and the office of Chief Secretary to lapse?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The staff of the Irish Office, the R.I.C. Office, and the R.I.C. Re-settlement Office, are under the control of my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary, as are also the staff now administering the Ex-Service Men's (Ireland) Grant. In so far, however, as the officials of the first-named office are engaged upon questions arising out of the Treaty and the establishment of the Irish Free State, they also advise my right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary. I anticipate that when the Irish Free State has been established, any matters arising therein which may require the attention of the Imperial Government or Parliament will be dealt with, as in the case of the other self-governing Dominions, by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The nature of the relation between the Government of Northern Ireland and the Imperial Government must depend upon the action, if any, taken by the Northern Government under Article 12 of the Treaty. As regards the last part of the question, I am not in a position to make any statement.

Captain BENN

What fraction of his former duties is still performed by the Chief Secretary? Would a small fraction justify the continuance of his appointment?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I cannot enter into fractional calculations, but it certainly is, in our opinion, necessary for the present to have a Minister in the position of Chief Secretary for Ireland. It is impossible to charge my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies with all the duties now discharged by the Chief Secretary as well as those which he himself performs.