§ Sir A. BUTTasked the under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that ex-service men appointed by examination to the position of officers of Customs and Excise in Dublin were, upon the signing of the Irish Peace Treaty, given a definite promise that they were to regard themselves as acting temporarily for the Free State Government, and that upon ratification of the Free State Constitution they would be allowed to choose between taking permanent service under the Irish Free State or of continuing elsewhere under the jurisdiction of the English Government: whether English Customs officers in Dublin are now being given to understand that they will have no choice whatsoever in the matter of transfer back to this country, and that they will, as from the 6th December, be permanently assigned to the Free State Government: and whether, if the promise were made as alleged, he will see that the pledge is kept to the English Customs officers serving in Dublin?
§ Mr. BALDWINIn view of the special position of officers of Customs and Excise as a "common service" class, the members of which are removable from time to time from one part of the United Kingdom to another as required, it is not proposed to transfer permanently to the service of the Irish Free State those officers who are now employed in Southern Ireland and who have declined to volunteer for such service. Such officers will be lent to the Irish Free State for a term and will thereafter be taken back into the Imperial Customs and Excise Service. I am not aware of any promise such as that referred to in the first part of the question by my hon. Friend.