§ 35. Sir Hugh O'Neillasked the Home Secretary whether it is proposed to prolong the life of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland which will expire on 1st March, 1943?
§ 54. Professor Savoryasked the Home Secretary whether he has come to any decision on the question of the prolongation of the duration of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland; and whether he is aware that, owing to the absence of many Ulstermen on active service and the staleness of the register, a general election held under present conditions would of necessity fail to express the mind of the electorate?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonTo continue the duration of the United Kingdom Parliament for another year beyond November next legislation will be required, and the Government propose to include in this Measure a provision enabling the duration of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland to be prolonged for a year from next March provided such prolongation is approved by a resolution of the Northern Ireland House of Commons.
§ Sir H. O'NeillCan my right hon. Friend say when this Bill is likely to be produced?
§ Mr. MorrisonIf my memory serves me rightly, it will probably be after the House resumes after the Summer Recess.
§ Mr. GallacherBefore this Bill is definitely decided upon will the Government demand of the Government of Northern Ireland that they make a complete reconstruction of their wholly unrepresentative Government in Northern Ireland at the present time?
§ Mr. MorrisonThat would seem to be the business of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. ShinwellCan the Home Secretary say whether, in view of the fact that in Northern Ireland there are a Government 168 and an Opposition, and that the coalition principle, as in our own case, has not been accepted, there is in fact a substantial case for prolongation, and ought they not to be permitted to have an election?
§ Mr. MorrisonI very much doubt whether the Parliamentary situation in Northern Ireland can be described as "a Government and an Opposition," but in any case Northern Ireland is not a Crown Colony, and I do not think that it is the duty of the Home Secretary meticulously to interfere with that Government.
§ Professor SavoryAre these questions not out of Order because they are all in the exclusive domain of the Government and Parliament of Northern Ireland, and especially does not the question raised in this House as to the composition of the Parliament of Northern Ireland, which comes exclusively under the Act of 1920, fall within the power of the Parliament of Northern Ireland itself?
§ Mr. ShinwellWhat is the hon. Member doing here then?
§ Sir H. O'NeillIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is no register in Northern Ireland other than the register of voters for the United Kingdom Parliament and that the same consideration would apply there as here, which would make an election on the old register almost a farce?
§ Mr. MorrisonThat is true. The conditions are very analogous in almost all respects. Perhaps the only exception in which they are not quite analogous is that an election in Northern Ireland might be somewhat more exciting than it would be in Great Britain.
§ Sir Percy HarrisWhile recognising the very strong case against an election in these circumstances, would it not be a reasonable thing to suggest that some endeavour should be made to formulate a National Government on the lines of this Parliament in order to prolong its life?
§ Professor SavoryIs not that a question for the Parliament of Northern Ireland?
§ Mr. KirkwoodIs it essential that Members of the Northern Ireland Parliament should require to come to this House of Commons to ask whether they may have a general election or not?
§ Mr. MorrisonIt is the case that the law provides that the Northern Ireland Parliament lasts for five years and no longer and that it cannot be prolonged without action by the Imperial Parliament at Westminster.