§ MR. KNOX (Londonderry)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether (1) his attention has been called to resolutions of the Derry Corporation relating to the extra police tax on that city; (2) whether he can say what are the free quota for Derry and Belfast respectively, when those quota were fixed, and what has been the percentage of increase of population since; (3) whether he is aware that the quota allowed in southern towns of less population is greater than in Derry; (4) and whether he will revise the quota so as to bring it into proportion with the present population?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe resolutions referred to have been received, and a communication has been addressed to the Derry Corporation on the subject. The present free quota of constabulary assigned to Derry is 62, and to Belfast 500, both forces having been fixed by Order of Council, dated the 19th May, 1897. I am informed by the Registrar General that the population of Derry in 1891 was 33,200, and that the present population is about 36,000. The population in 1891 of the city of Belfast, as now constituted, was 273,079, and the population of that city at present is estimated at 304,610. The fact is as stated in the third paragraph, but I must point out that the assumption that population is the only factor in determining the distribution of the free force is an erroneous one. The general circumstances of each city or county are also taken into consideration in allocating this force. The free force of Derry City was increased from 30 to 47 men in 1885, and to 62 in 1095 1888, whilst the extra force was reduced in the former year from 45 to 28 men, and has not since been increased. The distribution of the free establishment of police is revised triennially, pursuant to Act of Parliament, and there is no power to undertake a further revision until May, 1900.