§ Sir W. DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can now inform the House as to the terms of the agreement which has been concluded with ex-British civil servants in the Irish Free State, pursuant to the recent judgment, of the Privy Council in the case of Wigg and Cochrane; and whether, in view of the prolonged delay in paying the compensation to which these civil servants have been held to be entitled, interest will be payable on the amount of the compensation awarded from the date of their retirement?
§ Mr. AMERYAn agreement has been reached between His Majesty's Governments in the United Kingdom and in the Irish Free State that as soon as the necessary detailed arrangements for the purpose can be made, His Majesty's Government in the Irish Free State shall pay to all transferred Civil Servants who before 1st March next have either already been awarded compensation under the provisions of Article X of the Articles of Agreement or have given notice of intention to retire under the provisions of that Article, compensation on the basis laid down in Article X as interpreted by the Judicial Committee in Wigg and Cochrane's case, together with any arrears of compensation which may be due on that basis, and that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom shall recoup to His Majesty's Government in the Irish Free State the difference between the amount so paid and the amount which would have been paid but for the decision of the Judicial Committee.
I am informed that a further agreement has been reached between His Majesty's Government in the Irish Free 1145W State and representatives of the transferred officers still serving in the Irish Free State under which such officers as may give notice of retirement under Article X on or after 1st March, 1929, will be entitled to compensation on the basis of the terms set out in the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, together with the Treasury Minute of 30th March, 1922; compensation in such cases will be assessed finally by a special statutory tribunal, the membership of which will provide for representation of the transferred officers; and certain statutory safeguards will be provided for the position of transferred officers in respect of such matters as conditions of service, etc. To enable effect to be given to this agreement concurrent legislation will be required here and in the Irish Free State and His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have undertaken to introduce the necessary legislation here. The answer to the last part of my hon. Friend's question is in the negative.