HL Deb 17 December 1920 vol 39 cc438-9

PROVISIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE

NOMINATION ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF

SENATORS.

1. His Majesty may by Orders in Council make such provisions as may appear necessary or proper with respect to the election of senators and in particular with respect to the making and keeping of lists of the electors specified in the third part of the Second Schedule, the issue of writs, the modes of service and the returns to be made to such writs.

2.—(a) The term of office of every elected member of the Senate of Northern Ireland shall be eight years. (b) With respect to the members of the Senate of Southern Ireland the term of office of every nominated senator, and of every elected senator (other than senators elected by members of County Councils) shall be ten years, and the term of office of a senator elected by members of county councils shall be three years. Provided that, where a particular qualification is required under Part III of the Second Schedule for a senator to be elected by any of the classes of electors specified in that part of the said Schedule, such a senator shall cease to hold office on ceasing to have that qualification. The disqualification of persons in Holy Orders shall not apply in respect of any Archbishop or Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church or Church of Ireland elected as a senator of the appropriate class. (c) The term of office of a senator shall not be affected by a dissolution of the Parliament of Southern Ireland or Northern Ireland. (d) Senators shall retire at the end of their term of office and their seats shall be filled by new elections.

3. If the place of an elected senator becomes vacant before the expiration of his term of office by death, resignation, incapacity, or otherwise, the Lord Lieutenant shall cause a writ or writs to issued for the election by the body by whom such senator was elected of a senator in his place, and if the place of a nominated senator so becomes vacant, the Lord Lieutenant shall nominate a new senator in his place, but any senator so elected or nominated to fill a casual vacancy, shall hold office only so long as the senator in whose stead he is elected or nominated would have held office.

4. At any emit steel election of five or more members of the Senate of Southern Ireland, the election shall be according to the principle of proportional representation, each elector having one transferable vote as defined by the Representation of the People Act, 1918, and His Majesty in Council shall have the same power of making regulations in respect thereto as he has under subsection (3) of section twenty of that Act and that subsection shall apply accordingly.

The Commons propose to amend these Schedules as follows:Third Schedule, lines 10 and 11, leave out ("in such manner as that House may determine"). Fourth Schedule, line 11, at the end of paragraph (a) insert ("provided that one-half of such members shall retire at the end of every fourth year, the members to retire at the end of the first four years being selected by lot"). Fourth Schedule, line 36, leave out ("fire") and insert ("four"). Fourth Schedule, line 37, after ("Ireland") insert ("or of Northern Ireland").

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

I do not think there is anything controversial about the Schedules, and I beg to move that the Commons Amendments to the Schedules be agreed to.

Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendments.—(The Lord Chancellor.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.

Bill returned to the Commons.