§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he will lay upon the Table a Return "showing, by Provinces and Counties, the number of persons Boycotted, and the number of persons re- 1532 ceiving police protection, in Ireland, on the 31st day of July, 1885 (to correspond with Return, No. 280, of the present Session?
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)(who replied) said, in consequence of the short Notice given, he was unable to say whether the Return indicated could be prepared for presentation. If the hon. Member gave Notice to the Government in the ordinary way the matter would be considered.
§ MR. SEXTONasked, how many of the 159 persons stated in the Return circulated on Saturday last to be wholly Boycotted, and the 609 persons to be partially Boycotted, are included amongst the 1,001 persons stated in the same Return to be specially protected by the police?
§ COLONOL KING-HARMANThe two Returns are made separately; and it is quite possible—and, indeed, probable—that some persons who are under protection are also Boycotted. The figures could not be given without local reference; but it can be stated with certainty that many persons under special police protection are not included in the Return of those Boycotted.
§ MR. SEXTONasked, whether the right hon. and gallant Gentleman would undertake, before the debate commenced on Thursday, to inform the House what was the real total number of persons comprised in the two Returns?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANsaid, he could hardly undertake to do that. It was almost impossible to do so, as the hon. Member must be aware that there were many persons who were Boycotted and also under police protection, and that there were persons under police protection who were not Boycotted. They would do all they could; they could not do more.