DEPUTY LIEUTENANTS BILL. [H.L.] (Hansard, 20 March 1918)

§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (THE EARL OF DERBY)

My Lords, it will be in your Lordships' memory that this question was brought before your Lordships' House at the end of last year. It was then pointed out that under existing conditions the pool from which Deputy Lieutenants could be drawn was a comparatively limited one, and that under an old Statute there had to he a certain property qualification. Various Amendments have been made of the original Act, which is a very old Act, and thus the number of classes of people from whom Deputy Lieutenants could be drawn has been increased; but the fact still remains that even these concessions were to a certain extent nullified by the property qualification still holding good. The matter was brought before your Lordships' House and it received support from, amongst others, Lord Haldane, the noble Marquess 543 opposite, Lord Crewe, and the Earl of Dartmouth, and there was no dissentient. I undertook to look into the matter and consult the Lords Lieutenant.

I referred the matter to the Duke of Bedford, who is Chairman of the Association of Lords Lieutenant, which embraces all except seventeen of the Lords Lieutenant. They entirely agreed, but made certain proposals which have been incorporated in this Bill, with one exception. First, they suggested that the property qualification should be abolished. Secondly that the residential qualification should be retained, but that the condition at present applicable to county justices—namely, residence either within the county or within seven miles thereof—should be applied, subject to the qualification that a Deputy Lieutenant should not necessarily forfeit his office by ceasing to reside within the prescribed limits. Thirdly—this is not in the Bill—that the appointments of Deputy Lieutenants should be non-political Fourthly, that the gentlemen appointed should have rendered worthy service either of a civil or military character on behalf of the Army, Navy, or Auxiliary Forces. I think your Lordships will find that these conditions have been included in the one-clause Bill of which I have the honour to move the Second Reading, and I hope by these means the position of Deputy Lieutenants will be enormously strengthened by the addition to their ranks of many men who do not hold the property qualification but who have done good service to their country during the present war. The Bill applies only to Great Britain and does not apply to Ireland.

THE MARQUESS OF CREWE

My Lords, the noble Earl opposite gave a perfectly accurate account, so far as I am able to speak, of the transactions in relation to this Bill. Speaking generally, I think Lords Lieutenant were, if not unanimous, at any rate by a very great majority in favour of the abolition of the property qualification, and also of the retention of the residential qualification. There was bound to be a certain difference of opinion as to whether it was desirable to maintain the connection, first indeed established in connection with the Territorial Forces Act, between some service to the Forces and appointment as Deputy Lieutenant, or whether it was 544 desirable that the list should be once more thrown open to people of general standing and high character; but I am glad to say that there was a strong opinion among Lords Liuetenant, which I am sure will be confirmed by the House, that it would have been a great pity to break that connection with some form of service to the Forces in favour of a return to the older practice. At the same time the limitation of choice, which many Lieutenants of counties found very inconvenient, to those who had actually served in the Forces, is, I am glad to see, to be removed by the Bill. Those who in a civil capacity have rendered good service to the Territorial Force, or in some cases to the Volunteers, should be recognised in this manner, which is so highly appreciated by many men of worth and standing. I trust, therefore, that this Bill will become law without any Amendment.