HL Deb 10 May 1922 vol 50 cc313-4
THE EARL OF MIDLETON

My Lords, I beg to ask the noble Earl, the First Commissioner of Works, a Question of which I have given him private notice, namely, whether His Majesty's Government will at once lay on the Table the terms of reference to the Compensation (Ireland) Commission of which Lord Shaw of Dunfermline is to be Chairman, showing the nature of the eases which are to be reconsidered by the tribunal and the responsibility of His Majesty's Government and the Provisional Government respectively for the settlement of such claims. There are many of us in Ireland who regard with the greatest concern both the composition of the Commission and the actual items on which they are to decide, and we should be very glad to know at the earliest possible date whether His Majesty's Government can tell us what are the exact limitations of their authority.

THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (THE EARL OF CRAWFORD)

My Lords, if my noble friend will refer to Item 28 of this morning's Votes and Proceedings he will see that the Warrant of Appointment has been laid on the Table. It is now in the hands of the printers, and I hope will be available for your Lordships in a very short time. It is rather a long document, dealing with the personnel, the nature and scope of the Inquiry, the award of compensation, witnesses, evidence, inspection, reports, and so on. I hope it will be available to your Lordships quite soon.

THE EARL of MIDLETON

But there were certain statements made by Mr. Churchill, in another place, as to the liability of the respective Governments. Will those statements, or the essence of them, be shown in the Paper which it is proposed to lay?

THE EARL OF CRAWFORD

To tell the noble Earl the truth I have not read this document with great care, but I should imagine that the responsibility of the respective Governments would not be a matter referred to this Commission of three gentlemen. That clearly is independent of the inquiry they have to make. The responsibility of the respective Governments stands by itself.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

Is the inquiry to be made in England or in Ireland?

THE EARL OF CRAWFORD

I should imagine in both countries, but certainly in Ireland.

THE EARL OF MAYO

Might I ask the noble Earl whether the terms of reference will be in the document to which he referred?

THE EARL OF CRAWFORD

Yes, under the scope of the Inquiry. The first page deals entirely with that as far as I can make out.