§ MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, What was the sum spent in extra pay and travelling expenses on eviction duty, expenses of protection posts on evicted farms, &c, and of escorts and special guards by the Royal Irish Constabulary during April, May, and June 1887?
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)(who replied) said, that the Inspector General of the Royal Irish Constabulary reported that, to furnish this information, it would be necessary for the District-Inspectors—125 in number—to search through those items for all the months named. It would not be practicable to give the Return in less than a month, and the Inspector General also stated that, in the more disturbed districts, the preparation of the Returns would probably interfere with the ordinary police duties. Under those circumstances, the Government would not feel themselves justified in calling for the information.
§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)In consequence of the answer of the right hon. and gallant Gentleman, I shall call attention to this matter on the Vote for the Irish Police, and move that the Government in future furnish proper Returns monthly.
§ MR. COX (Clare, E.)asked, could the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say when a Return of the expenses of the Military and Constabulary Expeditions to Bodyke would be furnished?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANsaid, the hon. Gentleman should put the Question on the Paper.