§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that. Ireland has 28 representative peers to 16 for Scotland; whether the Law Officers of the Crown have decided that it will be competent for Irish peers to elect fresh representatives as vacancies occur; and. if so, whether legislation will be enacted to remedy the anomaly of Irish peers dealing with the affairs of Great Britain when three-fourths of Ireland has an independent. legislation?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer to the first, part of the question is in the affirmative. In reply to the second and third parts, the Law Officers have advised that, in the event of a vacancy occurring.1236W no action to fill it can be taken without further legislative provision, but that existing representative peers retain their right to sit. The matter is under consideration.