§ 45. Mr. MALLALIEUasked the Prime Minister Whether he will take steps to avoid the use of British troops and the expenditure of money from the Imperial Exchequer in keeping order in Northern Ireland?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)Under the common law troops may be called upon to aid the civil power in suppressing disturbances with which the civil power itself is unable to cope, and this applies in Northern Ireland just as in this country. Any expenditure incurred is part of the Imperial liabilities under the Government of Ireland Act, to which, of course, the Government of Northern Ireland contribute.
§ Mr. MALLALIEUIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a ban was recently placed upon processions, that the Orange Lodges defied that ban, and that, as a result of that defiance, the Government withdrew the ban; and will he make representations that that sort of partiality is not likely to lead to peace?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir, I was not aware.
§ Mr. MALLALIEUWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to find out?
§ Captain DIXONIs my right hon. Friend aware that the statement made by the hon. Member is entirely incorrect and that no ban was put upon Orange processions; and might I ask further if it is not a fact that Northern Ireland is part and parcel of the British Empire and that, therefore, the civil authority has exactly the same powers of calling upon the troops as the civil authority in London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, or any other City in the Kingdom?
§ Mr. HEALYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the whole trouble in 1836 Northern Ireland arises out of the provocative speeches and sectarian policy of the Northern Ministers?