§ SIR JOHN LENG (Dundee)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the Diamond Jubilee Day in Scotland, so far as the Post Office is 1412 concerned, will be celebrated on the same lines as in England, and the duties confined to one delivery and one dispatch of letters?
§ MR. HANBURYYes, Sir; as far as possible.
§ MR. M. J. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in commemoration of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee, now approaching, he would consider the propriety of advising the release of the treason-felony prisoners now still in prison?
§ MR. W. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he is aware that at many public meetings recently held in Ireland resolutions were unanimously passed asking for the immediate and unconditional amnesty of the Irish treason-felony prisoners now confined in English and Irish gaols; and whether, in view of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee, the request of the Irish people will be granted?
§ *SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYI am afraid that I can add nothing in answer to this Question, or the Question of the hon. Member for the St. Patrick's Division of Dublin, to what has been already stated in this House both by the Leader of the House and by myself.
§ MR FLAVINWill the right hon. Gentleman take the Question into his consideration before the Jubilee?
§ *SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYSir, I am always considering this question. [Laughter.]
§ MR. FLAVINI mean with a view to a favourable answer?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, seeing the amount of extra duty and responsibility which will be cast upon the Metropolitan Police Force during several days at the time of the Jubilee festivities, he will consider the advisability of giving to each member of the force a substantial gratuity in addition to an extension of the customary annual leave?
§ *SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYI have nothing to add to the answer which was given last week —namely, that it was hardly necessary to remind me as to this, and that at present any statement would be premature.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, following the precedent established in 1868–69 with reference to Waterloo and Peninsula veterans, he will consider the advisability of marking this Jubilee year by granting a small pension to veterans who have served through the two most important campaigns of the present reign, namely the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny?
MR. POWELL-WILLIAMSSpecial campaign pensions have, under certain conditions, been awarded to men who took part in the Crimean and Indian Mutiny campaigns. It is not at present contemplated to go further in that direction.