§ 24 Sir W. DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (1) whether he is aware that Messrs. Wigg and Cochrane, the appellants who won their case before the Privy Council in May 1927, have not yet been paid the compensation awarded to them; and what action is being taken in the matter;
(2), whether he is aware that some hundreds of ex-British civil servants transferred from the British Civil Service to the Irish Free State Civil Service have submitted applications for retirement under Article X of the Irish Treaty, in many cases several years ago, arid that such applications are still undealt with: and what action the British Government are taking to secure the observance of Article X of the Irish Treaty in this respect?
§ Mr. AMERYMy hon. Friend will appreciate that it is not possible for me to deal with the subjects raised pending completion of the examination of the matters arising out of the recent Report of the Judicial Committee. This examination is being expedited, as much as possible, but I regret that I am not yet in a position to add anything to the reply which I gave to the question addressed to me by my hon. Friend on the 19th instant.
§ Sir W. DAVISONApart from the question of this case governing the other claims, was it not agreed that the two successful appellants were to be paid, whatever the result with regard to the question of precedent and other claims?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIs it not a fact that the Irish Free State agreed to abide by the decision of the Privy Council?
§ Mr. AMERYI really prefer not to answer that question in that form at this moment. In the case to which my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) referred, it is affected by the whole of the negotiations which I hope will reach a satisfactory conclusion.