§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Cavan, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland can he state whether any increase has taken place recently in the police force of Cavan County; and whether, seeing that he promised in 1896 to see that a gradual process of reduction would take place, it is intended to carry this promise into effect.
§ MR. ATKINSON (for Mr. G. W. BALFOUR)No increase has recently been made in the police force of County Cavan. For many years the county has been served by the free quota. The policy of reducing the strength of the entire police force throughout Ireland, promised in 1896, has been since then steadily pursued.