HC Deb 29 November 1926 vol 200 cc834-5
79. Sir JOHN MARRIOTT

asked the Home Secretary if he will indicate the matters to which he recently referred in his official statement as having been delegated to the Parliament and Government of Northern Ireland?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

The powers so delegated are in respect of Irish services, as defined in the Government of Ireland Act, 1920.

Sir J. MARRIOTT

Will my right hon. Friend say whether there are any such services defined in that Act?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

Certainly. All the administration in Northern Ireland is delegated by this House to the Parliament and Government of Northern Ireland. They have also executive authority to carry that out.

Sir J. MARRIOTT

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that, as a matter of fact, under the Act of 1920, powers, instead of being delegated to the Government of Northern Ireland, were reserved to this House, leaving all the residue of powers in the hands of the two Parliaments it was proposed to set up in Ireland? It was exactly the contrary?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I do not know whether my hon. Friend is complaining that we delegated powers. If so, perhaps he is a greater purist in language than I am. There are powers delegated to Northern Ireland by this House, and I agree that there are powers reserved to this House by the same Act.

Sir J. MARRIOTT

Can my right hon. Friend mention any of the powers that were so delegated?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

If my hon. Friend puts down the Question again, I will give him a much longer answer.