§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Londonderry, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether there would be any difficulty in giving a Return showing the annual cost of the Royal Irish Constabulary for each rank of officer and non-commissioned officer as distinguished from the pay of the men; and showing, also, separately, the cost of eviction duty, allowances, extra pay, travelling expenses, clothing, arms, ammunition, accoutrements, forage, rent of barracks, cost of furniture, fuel and light, postage, escort, transport, pensions, and gratuities?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle - on - Tyne)As regards the pay of the officers the information asked for could be given with reasonable accuracy, and the items of expense mentioned in the latter part of the Question, with one exception, are practically the sub-heads of the Vote, and can of course be stated, as they actually are in the Appropriation Accounts. The one item which presents difficulty is the elimination from the general expenditure for extra pay and travelling expenses of the actual amount which may be considered to have arisen on eviction duty, and at best the accuracy of the figures would be very doubtful. This is due to the fact that the accounts are necessarily framed according to the sub-heads of the Vote, and there is no sub-head for "eviction duty." Subject to these observations, if the hon. and learned Member wishes to move for a Return, and will state the year in respect of which he would like to have the information—for the amounts neces- 1772 sarily vary year by year—there is no objection to his having it.