HC Deb 02 April 1928 vol 215 cc1581-3
28. Sir WILLIAM DAVISON

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can now inform the House as to what steps the Government have taken to deal with the hardships which are being suffered by many ex-British civil servants in Southern Ireland, many of whom have been without salary or pension or other remuneration for upwards of two years, by the reason of the failure of the Irish Free State Government to pay them the pensions and other compensation to which the Privy Council in May last held them to be entitled under Article 10 of the Irish Treaty?

Mr. AMERY

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to him on 19th ultimo. I understand that in the great majority of cases, namely, of temporary and unestablished officers, the claim to compensation is doubtful. My hon. Friend is mistaken in thinking that the judgment established the claim of any officer to compensation. It was merely directed to the basis on which the compensation, if any, which might prove to be due to them, should be assessed.

Sir W. DAVISON

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the statements in the question are correct? Many of these men have been waiting without income or pension for over two years, and many of them are in a serious state, and does he not think the British Government ought to do something to see that they have their rights?

Mr. AMERY

In my previous answer, I gave expression to the view, which I believe to be correct, that the number of those who were actually civil servants, or were in any sense established, was very limited. There are certain others who were temporary and whose claims to pension have therefore not been established, on whatever basis compensation may be afterwards assessed?

Sir W. DAVISON

However limited the number may be, does not the right hon. Gentleman think they ought to be paid compensation and not allowed to be without either income or pension for years?

Mr. AMERY

I hope the matter will be settled as soon as possible.

Mr. MACPHERSON

Have not the British Government a moral obligation, in any case, to deal fairly and justly with these men?

Captain CROOKSHANK

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the policy of the Government with regard to these Southern Irish Loyalists is thoroughly unsatisfactory all the time?