§ 3. Mr. Fittasked the Prime Minister if he will advise the setting up of a Royal Commission to investigate the working of the Government of Ireland Acts in so far as they concern matters within Ibe responsibility of Her Majesty's Government.
§ 4. Mr. Roseasked the Prime Minister whether he will now set up a committee of inquiry into the working of the Government of Ireland Acts in so far as they concern the responsibility of Her Majesty's Government.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. If as I understand the Questions refer to matters within the reserved powers in which Her Majesty's Government have a direct responsibility, I am not aware of any issue in which an inquiry is needed.
§ Mr. FittWould my right hon. Friend agree that under Section 75 of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, the ultimate responsibility for everything which happens and good government in Nor-them Ireland is with the United Kingdom Government? Would he further agree that in the 46 years which have elapsed since this Act was put on the Statute Book it has been made increasingly obvious that democracy does not exist in Northern Ireland and—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I sympathise with the hon. Gentleman in his right to put a point of view, but he must put it concisely like everybody else.
§ The Prime MinisterDemocracy in Northern Ireland has at any rate brought my hon. Friend to us, even if we have not had the pleasure of his company for the whole 46 years. This Question raises some very difficult issues because of the division of functions between the United Kingdom Parliament and Government and the Northern Ireland Parliament and Government. We are all aware that hon. Members in more than one part of the 722 House are very disturbed about certain things which go on. I am not taking sides in this because there are allegations and counter-allegations by one side or another within Northern Ireland.
I do not believe that this is a matter to be dealt with in the manner suggested in the supplementary question. I think that the right thing would be for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and myself to have informal talks with the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland to see whether some of the difficulties which all of us recognise exist might be overcome in an informal way.
§ Mr. RoseIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is great concern on this side of the House about allegations of religious discrimination in Northern Ireland—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Government. It cannot be raised at Question Time.
§ Mr. RoseOn a point of Order. Under Section 75 of the Government of Ireland Act all matters pertaining to Northern Ireland are ultimately—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman must accept Mr. Speaker's Ruling. If he turns to the appropriate page of Erskine May, he will find why he cannot raise these matters at Question Time.
§ Mr. ShinwellFurther to that point of order. I am sorry to raise this point, Mr. Speaker, but if Ulster Members come here and interfere in our affairs cannot we do likewise?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The right hon. Gentleman has raised a political point. All that I am concerned with is what is in order at Question Time. The hon. Gentleman will find that the matter is dealt with in Erskine May at page 354.
§ Mr. RoseFurther to that point of order. Since it is not in order to raise this matter because of the convention, is it in order for me to ask my right hon. Friend to hold an inquiry into this convention?
§ The Prime MinisterThere are very many things which over the years require informal consultations. There is the convention which all Governments in this 723 House have fully honoured about not dealing with matters which are within the responsibility of the Stormont Parliament. It sometimes means that problems in London, for example, are voted on by Ulster Members here whereas we cannot vote on corresponding issues there. Indeed, there could be a change of British Government following on a vote on an issue in respect of which we have no rights in Stormont.
The issues raised in this Question relate much more to certain allegations which have been very much rehearsed in recent weeks and months. Some of them must be a matter for investigation by the police and authorities in Northern Ireland; we have no responsibility for them.
On the wider issues, I think that the best thing is to have these informal talks with the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, who, we all recognise, has been very helpful on a number of questions very recently.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkNotwithstanding anything which the Prime Minister has said, in view of the untiring efforts of the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland to improve community relations which the right hon. Gentleman has acknowledged, and statements by officials of the Labour Party on the subject, will he not deprecate irresponsible and inaccurate statements made from time to time—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Whether they are made or not, they cannot be made at Question time.
§ Mr. Chichester-Clark—which tend to resurrect old sectarian bitterness?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman is equally out of order.