§ Mr. E. Smithasked the Home Secretary whether he can state the number of applications for certificates from people claiming to be suffering from silicosis; the number granted; the number of applications made for certificates claiming that death was due to silicosis; and the number of certificates granted in the North Staffordshire area of the pottery industry, with separate particulars for each year 1925 to 1938, respectively?
§ Mr. Lloyd:The following table relates to applications from the Pottery Industry (practically all from North Staffordshire) dealt with by the Stoke Panel of the Silicosis Medical Board since 1st June, 1931. The board did not previously deal with pottery cases, and I regret that earlier figures are not available.
Mr. M. MacDonald:In the new Constitution which was approved by the Parliament of the Irish Free State in June, 1937, the territory to which it relates is described as "Eire" or "Ireland." This Constitution replaced the then existing Constitution of the Irish Free State and came into force on 29th December, 1937. The following is an extract from a statement published on behalf of His 901W Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom on 30th December.
" His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom take note of Articles 2, 3 and 4 of the new Constitution. They cannot recognise that the adoption of the name Eire or Ireland, or any other provisions of those Articles, involves any right to territory or jurisdiction over territory forming part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or affects in any way the position of Northern Ireland as an integral part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. They therefore regard the use of the name Eire or Ireland in this connection as relating only to that area, which has hitherto been known as the Irish Free State."
Since that time the term "Eire" has been generally employed, for the sake of convenience and in order to avoid misunderstanding, in documents issued by the Government of the United Kingdom, other than documents issued under Statutes in which the term "Irish Free State" is used. The position as regards the statutory use of the term "Irish Free State" is dealt with in the Eire (Confirmation of Agreements) Bill now before the House.