§ 46. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Prime Minister whether, with reference to the 400 ex-British civil servants in Southern Ireland who are still waiting to retire, under Article 10 of the agreement for a treaty between Great Britain and the Irish Free State, but are unable to obtain the pensions to which they are entitled, as the compensation committee dealing with this matter has not sat for over two years, he can now inform the House as to the decision arrived at by the Irish Free State Government?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Arthur Michael Samuel)I have been asked to take this question. I can at present add nothing to the answers which the Prime Minister gave to my hon. Friend on 5th December.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs my hon. Friend aware that this matter has been under the consideration of the Free State Government for about two years, and, having regard to the fact that these are ex-British servants, does he not think that the British Government ought to make serious representations as to the Clause of the Treaty which is not being fulfilled in this respect?
§ Mr. SAMUELI can assure my hon. Friend that this matter is very closely in the mind of my Department, and that 2088 so far from having lost sight of it the matter is actually this very day under consideration. Everything will be done to speed up the business.