§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what is now the number of pensioners of the Royal Irish Constabulary receiving a lower pension than that to which they claim to be entitled by reason of the general adoption of the recommendations of the Commission of 1872, with respect to increase of the rates of pension payable to men at that time serving in the force; what is the annual amount involved in the claim of this particular class; whether they correctly represent that, whilst the recommendation in their regard as to pension has been disregarded, the recommendation as to pay had been acted upon during their continuance in the Service; and whether their case will be re-considered?
§ *THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir JOHN GORST,) Chatham(who replied): My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I presume the hon. Member refers to a Commission which reported in 1866, and I assume that the pensioners in question are those who retired from the Force between August, 1866, and August, 1874. I do not possess the information asked for in paragraphs 1 and 2. It is not the fact that the recommendation of the Commission as to pension has been disregarded. There is no intention of re-opening the case, which has been carefully considered on more than one occasion.