§ MR. ROCHEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the number of Protestant members of the Royal Irish Constabulary who are stationed at places where they have to walk 12 or 14 miles to Divine Service on Sundays; how many constables have been so stationed over 12 months contrary to the regulations; and whether steps will be taken to have the regulations in this connection complied with.
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR SCOTLANDThe Inspector General informs me that it is a rule of the Service that a man shall not, if it can be avoided, be left at a remote station which is not within reasonable distance of his place of worship for a longer period than 12 months, and officers are instructed to call attention to such cases in order that any disadvantage under which individual policemen might labour in this respect should be remedied by removal to another locality. To obtain the information required by the hon. Gentleman would, I understand, entail a correspondence with every officer in the Force, and this would occupy some time. If, however, he has reason to believe that the rule to which I have referred has been disregarded in any particular case and will privately communicate with me in the matter, further inquiry will at once be made.