HC Deb 24 May 1906 vol 157 c1439
MR. HALPIN

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury how many police pensioners are at present employed as watchers in the Customs Department in Ireland, with pensions varying from £48 to £72 per annum; and whether he will consider the advisability of the employment of civilians of irreproachable character and fair intelligence in the positions now occupied by Royal Irish Constabulary pensioners.

MR. MCKENNA

Out of sixty places of watchers at the various ports in Ireland, fifteen are filled by police pensioners with pensions varying from £48 to £72 per annum. In the appointment of watchers preference is given to pensioners from the Army, Navy, or police, because (a) a pension is regarded as a guarantee for good conduct and the correct discharge of duty, (b) the post of watcher is not itself pensionable. Non-pensioners are only appointed when suitable pensioners are not available.