§ MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the malicious burning of the house and property of Mr. Ripper, a farmer at Thelnetham: and whether, seeing that nineteen horses, cows, and pigs were burned to death, he will say what action has been taken by the police, and will Mr. Ripper get compensation for this malicious outrage.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS, Kent, St. Augustine's)No, Sir. My attention has not been called to this case. It would be a matter for the local police, and not one in which I have authority to take any action. The farmer would not be entitled to compensation from public funds unless the case came within the provisions of the Riot (Damages) Act, 1886.
§ MR. FLAVINIs there any official connected directly or indirectly with the Government who has any authority for dealing with these outrages?
§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)Has not the Executive Government of this country the same duty in regard to crime and outrage as the Executive Government possesses in Ireland? Who is responsible?
§ MR. AKERS DOUGLASThe responsible authority in this case is the standing joint committee of the county in which the outrage is committed.
§ MR. DILLONAfter Questions are over I shall raise this as a matter of order. I shall inquire if we are not entitled to ask from some representative of the Executive Government in England what special measures it is intended to take to put a stop to the commission of outrage in England. Are not the same steps taken as in Ireland?
§ MR. FLAVINWas not this man's house fired in two or three different places? Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire as to that?
§ MR. AKERS-DOUGLASI shall be happy to get any information in my power.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)Are such cases reported to the Home Office?
§ MR. AKERS-DOUGLASNo; but when such cases are brought to my notice it is my practice to inquire into the facts.
§ MR. DILLONHere we have a Minister willing to make inquiry. Surely, then, we have a right to ask for information such as is constantly given in the case of Ireland?
§ MR. AKERS-DOUGLASI do not think hon. Members can ever say I have refused information.
§ MR. DILLONOh, no! We make no complaint against the right hon. Gentleman. But several of our Questions have been refused at the Table, and I want to raise that as a point of order. Perhaps as the right hon. Gentleman has promised to make inquiry into any case as to which we require information, the Clerk at the Table will accept our Questions,
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKERA solution might be arrived at if hon. Members would frame their Questions somewhat differently and invite the Home Secretary to make inquiry.