§ Mr. AMERYasked the Chief Secretary (1) whether it will be possible, under the provisions of Clause 40 of the Government of Ireland Bill, for the Imperial Government to arrange for the carrying out by departments of the Irish Government of the executive and administrative powers or duties connected with the following subjects not within the legislative purview of the Irish Parliament—namely, naturalisation, trade with places out of Ireland, quarantine, merchant shipping, light- 857W houses, general postal service, coinage, legal tender, weights and measures, trade marks, designs, merchandise marks, copyright, or patent rights, and in respect of which of these it is intended to make use of those provisions; and (2) whether it will be possible, under the provisions of Clause 40 of the Government of Ireland Bill, for the Imperial Government to arrange for the carrying out by departments of the Irish Government of the powers and duties of any or all of the following reserved services—namely, Royal Irish Constabulary, the collection of revenue, the administration of land purchase, old age pensions, national insurance, Labour Exchanges, friendly societies, and savings banks, and in respect of which of these it is intended to make use of those provisions?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe provisions of Clause 40 are wide enough to include the making of arrangements between Irish Departments and Departments of the United Kingdom Government "with respect to the administration of the subject matters enumerated in these two questions. Whether in any particular instance such an arrangement will be made will be a question to be determined if and when it arises by the Departments concerned with the consent of their respective Governments.
§ Mr. AMERYasked the Chief Secretary whether, in the event of an arrangement under Clause 40 for the carrying out by a department of the Irish Government of any power or duty which, but for such arrangement, would be carried out by an Imperial Department, the Irish Government will be remunerated by an addition to the transferred sum or by direct payment on the part of the Imperial Department concerned?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe remuneration would be part of any arrangement made under Clause 40, and would be subject to the approval of the Treasury. It would be effected by special payment on behalf of the Department concerned.