§ 32. Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, now that the decision of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council has been given, he can say when the compensation to Irish civil servants under Article 10 of the Treaty will be paid?
§ 33. Sir BASIL PETOasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been called to the decision of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council presided over by Lord Reading which was given on the 13th instant; whether he is aware that the case of these civil servants has been before the Courts since November, 1923, and has been the subject of four decisions in which 14 Judges have participated; and whether, in view of the fact that the decision of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council presided over by Lord Reading upholds the judgment of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council presided over by the late Lord Cave, of 3rd May, 1927, he will now take steps to see that these civil servants receive the compensation to which they are entitled under Article 10 of the Treaty between Great Britain and the Irish Free State, of 6th December, 1921?
§ 34. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been called to the Report of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, issued on Tuesday last, on the reference submitted to them as to the correctness of their previous decision in the case of Wigg and Cochrane, relating to the amount of compensation payable to ex-British civil servants in the Irish Free State under Article X of the Irish Treaty; whether he is aware that the Judicial Committee, on their special reference, have unanimously confirmed the previous judgment of that Committee; and whether he will take steps to see that compensation will now be paid immediately to these ex-British civil servants in the Irish Free State who have suffered seriously by reason of the prolonged delays in the payment of the compensation to which they were held to be entitled by the Privy Council so long ago as May, 1927?
§ Mr. AMERYThe questions arising out of the recent Report of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council are under examination, but I am not in a position to make any statement at present.
§ Sir W. DAVISONApart from the important constitutional question involved, can the right hon. Gentleman not see that prompt payment by the British Government, who are wholly responsible, is made to these unfortunate people who for three or four years have not received the compensation to which the Privy Council has twice held that they are entitled?
§ Mr. AMERYWe shall endeavour to act as promptly as we can, but the hon. Member must realise that it is a very difficult situation. I cannot be expected to say more than that at the moment.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYCan the right hon. Gentleman say when it is anticipated that he will be in a position to answer the question?
§ Lieut. Commander KENWORTHYWas it not in regard to this question that the Whip was taken away from the hon. Baronet the Member for Barnstaple (Sir B. Peto)?